Post on 28-Dec-2015
Vehicle PursuitsVehicle Pursuits
Community Panel on Police PursuitsCommunity Panel on Police Pursuits
Dr. Stanley Stone—ChairpersonDr. Stanley Stone—Chairperson
Council WorkshopCouncil Workshop
February 9, 2004February 9, 2004
As Chairperson and on behalf of the City of Orlando, along with the Orlando Police Department, I would like to extend a special thanks to the panel members…
C.T. Hsu Ron Blocker Robin DrageWendy Pardew Roger Clark Paul RooneyMelissa Williams Gabriela Ortigoni Mary Beth ElkinsChester Glover Shawn Dunlap Kerrie TersianoJim Phillips Paul Curtis Fiolna BaxterBeverly Neal Ramon Ojeda Natasha Permaul
Mayor Buddy Dyer, City of OrlandoMayor Buddy Dyer, City of Orlando
Community Panel On Police PursuitsCommunity Panel On Police Pursuits
Michael J. McCoy, Chief of PoliceMichael J. McCoy, Chief of Police
Recommended Changes
to
OPD Policy
WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY PURSUIT PANEL ACCOMPLISHED
TO DATE?
• Changed name — “Operational Use of Police Vehicles” to “Vehicle Pursuits.”
• Simplified Pursuit Definition.• Simplified the entire policy — more clear and
concise.• Included a definition for “Termination of a Pursuit.”
WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY PURSUIT PANEL ACCOMPLISHED
TO DATE?
• Included a definition for “Reasonable Suspicion” – most important element in determining whether an officer can pursue.
• Changed “Infamous Crimes” to “Violent Forcible Felonies.”
• Deleted confusing language such as: “…any other felony which involves the use, or threatened us, of violence or deadly force against an individual.”
WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY PURSUIT PANEL ACCOMPLISHED
TO DATE?
• Listed 10 Violent Forcible Felonies for which officers may pursue fleeing suspects.
• Included considering “Alternative Means of Apprehension” when deciding to pursue a fleeing suspect.
• Motorcycle units will no longer be allowed to pursue.
WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY PURSUIT PANEL ACCOMPLISHED
TO DATE?
• Officers can no longer pursue a suspect vehicle the wrong way on a one-way street.
• Rolling roadblocks, boxing in, heading off and parallel approaches are no longer permitted.
• Officers cannot engage in pursuits initiated by other jurisdictions unless the pursuit meets OPD guidelines.
WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY PURSUIT PANEL ACCOMPLISHED
TO DATE?
• Vehicle Pursuit Form is now routed, having more checks and balances for review (Approval/ Disapproval).
• Created Vehicle Apprehension Form to track how often suspects flee from officers for crimes/infractions which are not pursuable per policy.
A multistage process by which an officer attempts to initiate a traffic stop and the
driver resists the directive to stop and increases speed or takes evasive action
and refuses to stop the vehicle.
New Definition:What is a PURSUIT?
Officers MUST reasonably believe…
…that the suspect• refuses to stop
• is willfully fleeing
• attempting to avoid capture
By:
High speed driving
Driving off roadway
Making sudden/unexpected movements
Driving on the wrong side of the street/roadway
Running red lights/stop signs
Evasive maneuvers
or not not to pursue
The DecisionThe Decision
to pursue
Decision (to pursue or not) is based on many factors
• Public safety• Traffic congestion• Nature of the suspected
crime• Later identification• Time of day• Vehicle speeds• Weather• Road conditions• Officer loses sight of
suspect vehicle• Location (i.e., school zone)
• Type of suspect/police vehicle
• Circumstance that may cause officer to lose control of emergency vehicle
• Availability of airborne units
• Began in another jurisdiction
• Loss of radio contact• Suspect drives wrong way
on a limited access highway
The Panel recommended that officers pursue only for
Violent Forcible Felonies1. Murder2. Manslaughter 3. Armed Robbery4. Rape5. Armed Sexual Battery6. Arson to an occupied structure 7. Use of explosive devices to an occupied structure8. Kidnapping9. Armed Carjacking10. Burglary armed with a firearm
The Panel took into account how long an officer has to decide to pursue or not.
What the officer is doing while making this decision:
Fighting Running Talking on the radio All of the above
The Odds
• 2 out of 3 end in collision when initiated for “felony reasons.”
The Panel met with Dr. Geoff Alpertwho relayed the following:
• 1 out of 3 end in collision when initiated for infractions.
• 1 out of 100 ends in DEATH!
• 1 out of 8 end in injury.
WHO DIES IN PURSUITS ?
Suspects are killed most frequently
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2002
Third parties are second
Officers are lowest
Who’s affected?
Whose family is destroyed?
Who are the survivors?Parents, children, wife, brother, sister, peers?
Where might the guilt come from?
What’s Next?What’s Next?- Adoption of new OPD Vehicle Pursuit policyAdoption of new OPD Vehicle Pursuit policy
- Implementation Implementation
- Training Training Training Training Training!!Training!!
- Educate the citizens of OrlandoEducate the citizens of Orlando
- MonitorMonitor
- Training Training Training!!
The Panel believes that the recommended changes allow
officers, supervisors and commanders to closely monitor
the need for apprehensionvs.
the potential dangercreated by the pursuit.
The EndThe End