HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #26 - Discussion Item° 23
I. Policy Rati_ on„�l�s
Police officers are called upon to engage in emergency
vehicle operations in' response to calls for assistance or
crimes in progress that result in the vehicle pursuit of
law violators. The conditions and privileges that drivers
of authorized emergency vehicles must obey and comply with
are contained in Florida Statutes. A policy on vehicle
police pursuit operations which further underscores
statutory concern for the safety of police officers,
persons being pursued, and other citizens is desirable and
reasonable.
II. Criteria for Initiation.
Officers may engage in pursuits when they have a
reasonable belief that the fleeing suspect has committed
or attempted to commit a violent felony. All other
pursuits are prohibited.
ITI. Defin tions
A.
An active attempt by a law enforcement officer in an
authorized emergency vehicle to apprehend one or more
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occupants of a moving motor vehicle, providing that the =
driver of such vehicle is aware of the attempt and
increases vehicle speed and/or takes other evasive actions
in an attempt to avoid apprehension. _.
B. Violent Felony. ,
A felony involving violence or the threat of violence
to another person. Such crimes include murder,
manslaughter, sexual battery, kidnapping, robbery,
aggravated battery, aggravated assault, or any other
felony which involves the use or threat of physical
force or violence to a person.
C. Reasonable Belief.
Facts that would cause a reasonable person to conclude `=
that the point at issue is probably true.
IV. F"irsuit Procedures
A. Number of Police Vehicles: No more than two police
vehicles will be actively involved in a pursuit,
unless specifically directed otherwise by the
supervisor controlling the pursuit. The police
vehicles involved in the pursuit will be known as:
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1. Primary Unit: This will generally be the
initiating officer but in all cases will be the
unit in 'closest proximity to the fleeing
vehicle.
2. Support Unit: A police unit which trails the
primary unit at a safe distance and which will
be immediately available to assume the pursuit
or assist the primary unit in the event the
fleeing vehicle is stopped.
3. Backup Unit: With the exception of the primary
and support unit all police vehicles cognizant
of the pursuit shall become backup units. They
will remain alert to the direction and progress
of the pursuit and may position themselves at
strategic sites along the probable pursuit route
or can parallel roadways for response to any
exigencies that may develop; however, these
units iv; ? 1? not bg gl2eXated in an emergency node,
and will not actively pursue the offenders'
vehicle.
4. Supervisory Unit: Immediate supervisory
participation is imperative. In the absence of
the supervisor of the units involved, a Field
Supervisor or Commander in the area will assume,
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such control, or in the unlikely situation that
none are available, control will be initiated by
the communication's shift supervisor, until an
appropriate field supervisor announces
participation.
E. Emergency Vehicle Operation: Vehicle pursuit shall
be conducted in strict compliance with existing
statutes.
1. Initial Contact: In order to diminish the
likelihood of a pursuit developing, officers
intending to stop a vehicle shall, when
practicable, be within close proximity to the
vehicle prior to activating the emergency lights
- and siren.
2. Emergency Equipment: Officers engaged in
vehicle pursuit shall utilize all emergency
equipment including:
at siren
b. Emergency Lights
C. headlights day or night
C. Initiating/Primary Pursuing Unit Notification
Responsibilities; The officer initiating a pursuit
shall in all cases immediately notify communications
that a pursuit is underway and provide the following
information;
1. Unit identification, followed by the word:
"PURSUIT"
2. 'vehicle description, including license number,
if known
3. Location, estimated speed and direction of
travel
4. The specific reason for the pursuit, including
known laws violated
5. The following information is optional to be
given at the discretion of the pursuing officer
based on the conditions at hand;
a. Number and description of occupants if
known
b. Type of vehicle being operated if it is
.
other than a standard marked patrol unit.
{Officers are reminded that vehicles
without emergency equipment, siren and -
{ }} flashing lights, will not engage in
pursuits) .
C. Rooftop number if applicable.
D. Offensive Tactics: In the course of pursuit,
deliberate contact between vehicles or forcing the
pursued vehicle into parked cars, ditches, or any
other obstacle is prohibited. Pursuit shall be
primarily "following" actions. Reckless or hazardous
driving maneuvers shall not be duplicated by any
pursuing vehicle.
E. Road Blocks: Unless authorized by a supervisor, and
then only as an absolute last resort, in situations
where the use of deadly force is justified, officers
shall not use their vehicles as roadblocks.
F. Passing: There shall be no attempt by officers to
pass the primary pursuit unit unless the passing
officer receives specific permission from the primary
officer or a supervisor.
G.
Spacing: All Units in pursuit, whether the vehicle
in front of the unit is the fleeing vehicle or
another police vehicle shall space themselves at a
distance that will ensure adequate braking.
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H. Traffic Regulatory Controls: Pursuant to applicable
Florida State Statutes, police Officers, while
engaged in a- pursuit, with emergency equipment
activated, although not required to obey traffic
regulatory controls, must at all times operate the
vehicle in a wanner so as to not endanger life or
property and exercise due regard for safety of all
persons.
1. Radio Transmission: When a pursuit is in progress
radio transmissions shall be restricted to the
primary pursuing unit and incidents of an emergency
nature. Back up units will not advise their location
or other information unless deemed necessary for
apprehension efforts.
V. Use of Firearms puriBg Pursuit
A. Officer's Position: A police officer shall make
every effort not to place himself,/herself in a
position that would increase the possibility that the
vehicle being pursued can be used as a deadly weapon.
i
g. The discharge of firearms,
shall not
be utilized when
the circumstances do not
provide a
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high
g probability
of striking the intended
target or
when there is a
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substantial risk to the
safety of
other persons,
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including risk associated
with vehicle accidents.
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C. Officers shall not shoot from or at a moving vehicle,
_
except under the following circumstances: —
1. When an occupant of the vehicle is utilizing
deadly force against police officers or other
persons.
Z. 'As a last resort to prevent death or substantial
harm to the officer or other persons. s--
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3. As a last resort to apprehend a felon who has _=
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just committed a felony resulting in death or =
substantial harm. -
VI. specialized Police Vehicles
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A. Police vehicles without emergency equipment:
_
Unmarked or marked police vehicles that are not
equipped with siren and emergency lights will not
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engage in pursuits.
assistance can be obtained from a marked standard
police patrol unit bearing emergency lights and
siren. Miami' police motorcycles will spot become
involved in pursuits for any reasons.
VII . Tern.ination cf Pursuit.
A. Pursuit will be immediately terminated under the
following conditions:
1. After initiation the offense is determined to be
a traffic infraction, misdemeanor, or non-
violent felony.
2. The distance between the officer and violator is
so great that further pursuit is futile.
3. The officer loses visual contact with the
violator for an extended period of time
(approximately 1.5 seconds).
4. A supervisor or higher authority orders the
pursuit terminated.
5. When there is an equipment failure involving the
emergency lights, siren, radio, brakes, steering
or other essential mechanical equipment.
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6. When there is a clear and unreasonable danger to
the officer, fleeing motorist and/or other
persons. A clear danger exists when speed
'dangerously exceed the normal flow of traffic or
when vehicular or pedestrian traffic
necessitates dangerous maneuvering exceeding the
performance capabilities of the vehicle or the
driver.
B. While not necessarily dictating immediate action
strong and continuing consideration should be given
to termination of the pursuit under the following
conditions:
1. Environmental factors such as rain, fog or
darkness substantially increase the danger
of the pursuit.
2. When the officer is unfamiliar with the area
and unable to accurately notify
Communications of his location and the
direction in which the pursuit is
proceeding.
3. Road conditions are congested by traffic or
pedestrians; this would be especially
appropriate during rush hour or in the area
of any school.
4. When the violator proceeds the wrong way on
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D.
any Interstate Highway, divided highway or one-
way street.
C. Under the following conditions the primary pursuing
unit will reduce the level of pursuit to that of a
support or Backup Unit:
1. The fleeing vehicle comes under the surveillance
of an air unit.
2. When another police vehicle comes into closer
proximity to the vehicle being chased. Officers
are reminded that they are not to overtake a
primary or support unit unless specifically
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requested to do so as stated in the paragraph on
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passing earlier in this policy. (Section IV, C,
—
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5, Paragraph F). Spacing for safety is
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required.
VITI. Interjurisdictional Pursuits..
A. When an officer is in pursuit into another agency's _
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jurisdiction the concerned Communications Unit will. -
notify that agency and specify: —
1. That the call is a request for assistance.
2. Or, that .the call is a notification with no
participation requested.
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B. Requests by other agencies for pursuit assistance
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will be relayed to the affected agency's supervisor
for evaluation and assignment.
C. Upon being made aware of an interjurisdictional
pursuit in progress by another agency the concerned
Communications Unit will notify the affected agency
or district by radio broadcast. officers shall not
become involved in the other agency's pursuit unless:
1. Authorized by their supervisor.
2. It is clearly demonstrated that a lone unit from
an outside agency is unable to request
Departmental assistance.
3. It is clear that an emergency exists which
dictates the immediate intervention and
assistance by other police units.
4. It is clear that the offense committed meets the
criteria for MPD involvement. (Paragraph II).
D. Caravans are prohibited. In the event of multi -
jurisdictional involvement, officers will count all
vehicles involved and participate as either primary,
support or backup.
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ix. Suoervisory RQ�ns ,biliti .�_
A. Supervisor; Supervisors shall assert control by
monitoring the pursuit and taking the necessary
action to ensure compliance with this policy.
B. The supervisor of the unit initiating the pursuit
shall be responsible for submission of a written
analysis and critique of the pursuit through the
chain, of command to the Department Head within 72
hours after the incident.
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