Opinion ID: 865786
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Use of force incident;

Text: 5. A violent or potential violent crime in progress; 6. A fleeing suspect; or 7. Domestic Abuse Incidents. 8. Motor vehicle accidents. The first responder must exercise discretion in determining the best course of action. These options range from immediate intervention to identification and reporting. The safety of deputies and innocent life will always be a prime factor when considering options. 12 Rankin County Law Enforcement Policies and Procedures, § 3.1 Patrol Functions & Tactics. Rayner argues that Deputy McCarty acted in violation of these policies, because he was not a first responder, and he was not responding to one of the eight listed situations. Rayner argues that Deputy McCarty’s violation of Mississippi Code Section 63-3-315 and departmental policies was inherently reckless. ¶21. Rankin County contends these arguments are procedurally barred because Rayner failed to raise them before the trial court. However, in her response to the motion for summary judgment, Rayner clearly raised these arguments and attached supporting documentation. Therefore, these arguments are not procedurally barred. ¶22. Rayner argues that if an emergency vehicle drives past a red light in response to a report of a “disturbance,” instead of a report specifying an “emergency call,” Mississippi Code Section 63-3-315 is violated. Rayner argues that not every situation deemed a “disturbance” would permit emergency driving measures under Mississippi Code Section 63- 3-315, because a “disturbance” could constitute something as innocuous as a dog barking. There is no caselaw construing the term “emergency call” as used in Section 63-3-315. Nor is there any evidence disclosing what the disturbance might have been in this case. The term “disturbance” certainly could include an innocuous situation such as a dog barking. But on the other hand, a “disturbance” could just as easily signify domestic violence or another dangerous situation requiring a swift response. Rayner bears the burden to prove that Deputy McCarty acted in reckless disregard. Rayner has not submitted any proof that the situation to which Deputy McCarty was responding was of such an insignificant nature that he acted in reckless disregard by crossing the intersection against the red light. 13 ¶23. Rayner cites no authority for her contention that Deputy McCarty’s violation of law enforcement policies was equivalent to acting in reckless disregard. It appears that Rayner is arguing that the existence of a police policy that prohibits the course of action taken by the officer constitutes proof that the officer acted with reckless disregard. In City of Ellisville v. Richardson, 913 So. 2d 973, 977-78 (Miss. 2003), this Court articulated a ten-part test for reckless disregard that includes, as a factor, the existence of a police policy that prohibits pursuit under the circumstances. However, the ten-part test is used for evaluating whether an officer acted in reckless disregard in connection with a police pursuit. City of Jackson v. Spann, 4 So. 3d 1029, 1033 n.7 (Miss. 2009). This case does not involve a police pursuit. Moreover, the evidence lends no support to Rayner’s contention that Deputy McCarty violated the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department’s law enforcement policies. Deputy McCarty testified that he and another officer were responding to the disturbance call. Rankin County’s policy states that responding to some calls may require several deputies, and that the situations requiring a response from multiple deputies are not limited to the eight listed situations. The Court finds this argument to be without merit.