[directive] 1  Purpose of Policy ...................................................................................................................................  1  2 Definitions ............................................................................................................................................. 2  3 Deciding Whether to Pursue ................................................................................................................. 4  4 Role of the Pursuing Officer .................................................................................................................. 7  5  Vehicular Pursuit Restrictions ...............................................................................................................  8  6  Authorized Tire Deflation Devices ......................................................................................................  10  7  Role of the Supervisor .........................................................................................................................  12  8  Role of Police Communications ..........................................................................................................  13  9  Reinstating Pursuits ............................................................................................................................  13  10  Interjurisdictional Pursuits .................................................................................................................. 13  11  Vehicular Pursuit Reporting ................................................................................................................ 14  12 Vehicular Pursuit Review ....................................................................................................................  15  13  Training ...............................................................................................................................................  17  14  Individual Agency Policies ...................................................................................................................  17  1  Purpose of Policy  1.1  The primary purpose of this policy is to secure a balance between the protection of the lives and safety of the public and police officers, and law enforcement's duty to enforce the law and apprehend violators.  This Policy is intended to guide the circumstances under which officers may engage in vehicular pursuits.  High-speed vehicular pursuits create a substantial risk of injury and fatalities.  Over 10% of vehicular pursuits end up in accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities, including to officers, innocent third parties in vehicles unrelated to the pursuit, and pedestrians.  1.2  The pursuit policy was last updated in 2009.  The policy succeeded initially in reducing the number of pursuits, injuries, and fatalities associated with them.  However, after an initial decline, the number of pursuits has been increasing steadily since 2014.  Since the policy was updated there have been almost 4,200 accidents during pursuits that resulted in over 2,800 injuries, including injuries to 625 law enforcement officers, 682 victims in third party vehicles, and 52 pedestrians.  In that same period, there have been 59 fatalities associated with pursuits, including an officer, four third-party drivers, and eight pedestrians.  1.3  In recognition of this data and the substantial human costs associated with high-speed vehicular pursuits, this Policy further restricts the circumstances under which pursuits can be undertaken.  The offenses for which officers may pursue suspects has been limited to only the most serious crimes.  Significantly, most drug offenses have been removed from the list of crimes authorizing the initiation of a pursuit.  This Policy creates a strong presumption against the initiation of pursuits for traffic violations and prohibits continuation of a pursuit based on the risk created by the speed or evasive driving of the fleeing suspect during the pursuit itself.  It also requires greater oversight by supervisors, and mandates that a pursuit be terminated unless a supervisor affirmatively authorizes it to be continued.  1.4  Deciding whether to pursue a motor vehicle is among the most critical decisions made by law enforcement officers.  It is a decision which must be made quickly and under difficult, often unpredictable circumstances.  In recognition of the potential risk to public and officer safety created by vehicular pursuits, no officer or supervisor shall be criticized or disciplined for a decision not to engage in a vehicular pursuit or to terminate an ongoing vehicular pursuit based on the risk involved, even in circumstances where this Policy would permit the commencement or continuation of the pursuit.  Likewise, officers who conduct pursuits consistent with this Policy will be strongly supported by the law enforcement community in any subsequent review of such actions.  1  USE OF FORCE POLICY