Pursuit Procedures
Definitions
“Pursuit”
A Pursuit is defined as a multi-stage process by which a driver of a vehicle resists the signal or order to stop, increases speed, takes evasive action, and/or refuses to stop the vehicle. Once the driver refuses to obey the peace officer’s signal or order, this pursuit policy and procedure will determine the officer’s and agency’s actions.
“Pursuit Termination”
A pursuit shall terminate when the pursuing officer(s) turn off their emergency equipment (lights and sirens), resume routine vehicle operation, and inform dispatch (or other units in RTO), or when the suspect vehicle stops.
“Channeling”
To direct vehicular traffic into a progressively narrowing passageway or lane location on the roadway. (Used to clear highways or streets to avoid collision of the pursuit vehicle with other public traffic)
“Compelling Path”
The use of channeling technique with a modified roadblock located at its narrowed end. The compelling path differs from a termination roadblock in that the driver or any vehicle traveling the path has an exit option and the narrowed end.
Procedures & Tactics
Emergency Vehicles shall be driven in a safe manner and with due regard for public safety.
Emergency Vehicles operating in emergency mode are permitted to violate certain traffic regulations when necessary, as long as the operator continues to exercise due care in vehicle operation.
The pursuing vehicle shall be known as the “PRIMARY UNIT”, which will be the unit closest to the fleeing vehicle, and the “SECONDARY UNIT”, which shall remain at a safe distance behind the primary unit but close enough to provide support and communicate to dispatch and other officers in RTO. Backup Units as needed shall operate at a safe distance to provide support
Any Officer desynchronizing is required to immediately exit the pursuit. If the suspect is desynchronizing, the Pursuit is also to be called off.
Pursuit Considerations
Pursuit is justified when
a vehicle operator fails to stop after being given visual or audible signal to stop by a peace officer; and
There is reasonable expectation of a successful apprehension of the suspect.
Other factors to be considered:
The initial decision to engage in a pursuit shall rest primarily with the officer who has initiated this vehicle stop, after considering the elements of this policy.
These elements shall include, but are not limited to: the crime for which the suspect is wanted (the need to apprehend immediately), and the risk to the community created by the pursuit.
the officer must continually consider the risk created by the pursuit as those risks may change during the pursuit.
terminating the pursuit shall be considered a decision made in the interest in public safety and the safety of the pursuing officers.
the officer’s decision to continue a pursuit may be overridden by a supervisor or higher ranking supervisor at any time.
Standards applied to the evaluation of a pursuit as well as the decision to continue a pursuit shall include the following considerations:
is the need to immediately apprehend the suspect more important than the risk created by the pursuit.
do the dangers created by the pursuit exceed the danger posed by allowing the perpetrator to escape.
Pursuit Factors influencing termination of pursuit.
The driver of the primary unit and the supervisor shall continually evaluate the risks and likelihood of a successful apprehension of the suspect, and shall consider terminating the pursuit under the following conditions:
The conditions of the pursuit become too risky for the safe continuation of the pursuit
A supervisor orders it terminated
Information is communicated that indicates the pursuit is out of compliance with policy
Communication is broken
Visual Contact is lost for a reasonable period of time or the direction of travel can not be determined.
The suspect is known and could be apprehended later, and delaying the apprehension does not create a substantial known risk of injury or death to another
Air Support
Once an air support unit (Air-1/2/3) is arriving in the area of the pursuit and manages to make a “lock” onto the suspect vehicle, the Air Unit is to take callouts about the location, direction of travel, vehicle speed etcetera.
Crash Support / Care and Consideration of Victims
If during a pursuit an officer observes or is made aware of an injury to an individual, the officer shall immediately notify the rto to have the appropriate emergency units respond.
The primary pursuit unit will be responsible for ensuring assistance is provided to people who may have been injured during the course of a pursuit. The primary unit may delegate the responsibility to render assistance to a backup unit
incase of the primary unit or a different unit in pursuit crashing their vehicle, the unit 2 vehicles behind them is to pull over and check on them. If any officer is found failing to check on the crashed unit, he/she will receive a strike and a termination from SVU unless logical reasons are given.
Road Blocks
Roadblocks are a procedure to terminate a pursuit may be used in case of low-speed pursuits and a possible combination with the use of firearms by the suspect. Roadblocks should only be used, if the safety of other civilians can be ensured through Channeling or the use of leading public traffic off the road at prior exits or stopping it at a prior location (side of highway/street). To create a roadblock, one or multiple police cruisers should be placed in the middle of the lane, crossing it. In Front of the Vehicle, towards the upcoming traffic, a highly visible barrier or cones should be placed for higher visibility.
It’s important for members to consider the danger of the suspect vehicle, Members may either position themselves behind larger vehicles such as (Trucks, Armored Vehicles, etc) or at the side of the road. Typically they should be armed with a long gun (Rifle).
PIT Maneuver
The pursuit intervention tactic, for short “PIT”, is a commonly used but often risky maneuver for Law Enforcement, Law Enforcement utilizes their push/ram bar to collide into a suspect's vehicle's rear side bumper. The goal of the PIT is to create vehicles to spin out not into a crash. The PIT must be executed on the left rear side of a suspect's vehicle.
The following Factors need to be cleared to allow the initiation of a PIT-Maneuver:
Vehicle Must be driving 80 MPH or less (SE Units may Pit Vehicles at up to 110 MPH)
Area in front of the pursuit must be clear of Officers and or Civilians in a Range of 100 Meters Minimum
All RTO Officers must be informed before the procedure
“XX-XX going for Pit on left/right side, STAY BACK, STAY BACK”
Road Conditions must be dry and safe
no Pits in Rain, Snow or similar -> uncontrolled Spinning
Vehicle may not be a 2-Wheeler, Commercial Vehicle, have a weight of 3 Tons , an unprotected driver (convertible with open roof, golf cart etc.)
Pitting Law Enforcement Vehicle should have a ram bar
Pitting LEO must be trained and experienced on this procedure.
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