Chase Protocol

Any form of vehicle pursuit has the potential to endanger the public and others. If at any point during the chase you feel that the chase has too much of a risk to you or others, you have the right and should call off the chase fully. When doing so, inform Dispatch and other officers.

During a pursuit, each unit has a different role and responsibilities. Each unit should focus on driving safely and maintain enough distance between units in case of emergency stops. High speed chases may require more spacing than slow chases.

The order of the Pursuit is to be maintained. There is to be no passing during a pursuit unless given the role. Example:

• Primary:Tires are shot out, unable to rejoin chase, Secondary take Primary

• Secondary: Secondary taking Primary, Tertiary take Secondary

The only exception to this is when a unit has completely crashed out of the pursuit and has almost stopped, then the next unit can assume their role. This said, the Primary and Secondary are responsible for calling out their situation and if they need support. This is especially important for when the Primary does not have the appropriate vehicle to chase the suspect vehicle.

Roles:

Primary Unit:

• The Primary Unit is the lead vehicle responsible for keeping eyes on the suspect and commanding the Tertiary Units to do parallels and spike traps.

Secondary Unit:

• The Secondary Unit is to trail behind the Primary unit and is responsible for calling out the location of the pursuit as well as taking over primary if something happens to the Primary Unit and they are unable to continue.

Tertiary Units:

• The Tertiary Units are to trail the Primary and Secondary by providing support by taking either position if the stated unit is unable to continue. They are also to perform actions commanded by the Primary.

If at any point you find yourself attempting to attach to a pursuit, wait for all units currently in the pursuit to pass before attempting to join. Never block the road or make contact with the suspect unless ordered by the Primary.

If there is a Sky unit in the chase, they are to take a second Primary position and be treated as a visual unit only. If the Secondary is unable to take communications, Raven1 is to be moved to a Secondary position and take over communications and call outs.

If there is a Bike unit in the chase, they are to take Primary until they call out that pitting is authorized. If Secondary is sent in to pit the suspect, Primary is to become the Secondary unit.

Spacing is very important with a Bike unit as they have no protection and can be easily break checked by the suspects. Keep at least 8-10 car lengths between the Primary Bike, and Secondary unit.

Procedure:

When engaging in a vehicle pursuit, try to maintain visual on the suspect at all times and communicate to dispatch that you have started a chase with a suspect. If you have lost eyes on a suspect at any point, inform dispatch and other officers and let them know where last sight was, and the direction they were going.

When in a vehicle pursuit, you must give out clear and concise details of your current location. Use the following details: - Direction of travel (North, South, East, West)

- Current road of travel

- Nearest landmark

Try to give as much detail on the suspect’s vehicle and the suspect as possible (Car, Plate, Color, etc.)

If you see a suspect attempting to take a jump or drive into the water, attempt to stop them by cutting them off, or pit them to the side.

If someone is attempting to switch cars:

- Do not shoot the suspect with lethal

- Exception to this is if the suspect attempted to shoot at officers at any point in the chase.

- Taze or Tackle the suspect

- Shoot the tires of the new vehicle out (Use your Taser)

- Attempt to spike strip the new vehicle

Foot Chase:

If at some point a chase turns into a foot chase, always have 1 person on non-lethal and 1 person on lethal. This means there is always 1 taser to a scene. Never shoot lethal unless the suspect is coming at you or another officer with the intent to kill.

If there are multiple suspects in a foot chase, call out over the radio that you are chasing a suspect. Call out which one you are chasing with a brief description so that other officers know that all suspects are being actively chased.

Well chasing a suspect, always call out when you go for a tackle or a tase. Tackling a suspect should always be your first approach to a suspect followed by tasing. After tackling the suspect, call out that you are going for cuffs and attempt to cuff the suspect. If the suspect breaks out of the cuffs, start the chase over by attempting to tackle them again. If a suspect attempts to get into another vehicle, attempt to tase the suspect then call out going for cuffs and cuffing the suspect.

Order of importance in chase:

• Tackle: When going for a tackle on a suspect, always call out that you are going for a tackle. This way other officers know to stay out of the way for the tackle.

• Tase: Tasing should primarily be used if a suspect is unable to be tackled for any reason. If the suspect is attempting to get into a vehicle, officers should call out they are attempting to tase and call out the vehicle.

• Lethal: Lethal should only be used in the event that a suspect either pulls out a gun and shoots at officers. Officers should always call out if they have lethal out or not. SHOULD BE LAST RESORT.