15-10 Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Flashcards
What is the Rationale?
The Province of Ontario has regulated that, before initiating a suspect apprehension pursuit, a police officer SHALL determine whether the immediate need to apprehend or identify an individual in a fleeing motor vehicle or to identify the fleeing motor vehicle outweighs the risk to public safety that may result from the pursuit.
What is the Supervision?
- Pursuit Supervisor attendance mandatory to monitor when a pursuit is initiated
- Pursuit Supervisor notification mandatory when a pursuit is initiated
Public Safety
(1) Public safety is the paramount consideration factor in any decision to initiate, continue or abandon a pursuit.
(2) Public safety represents a factor which may change rapidly, and which SHALL be continually assessed.
(3) A police officer does not breach the code of conduct when the officer decides not to initiate or chooses to abandon a pursuit because the officer has reason to believe that the risk to public safety that may result from the pursuit outweighs the risk to public safety that may result if an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle is not immediately apprehended or if the fleeing motor vehicle or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle is not identified.
(4) A pursuit SHALL be the choice of last resort and SHALL be considered only when other alternatives are unavailable or unsatisfactory.
(5) Before initiating a pursuit, a police officer SHALL determine whether in order to protect public safety, the immediate need to apprehend or identify an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle or the need to identify the motor vehicle outweighs the risk to public safety that may result from the pursuit.
(6) During a pursuit, a police officer SHALL continually reassess the determination to pursue and SHALL abandon the pursuit when the risk to public safety that may result from the pursuit outweighs the risk to public safety that may result if an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle is not immediately apprehended, or if the fleeing motor vehicle or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle is not identified.
Criminal Offences
(1) A police officer may pursue or continue a pursuit where the police officer, prior to initiating a pursuit, has REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE that a criminal offence has been committed or is about to be committed.
(2) The criminal offence (flight) described in ss. 249.1 of the Criminal Code is not justification to initiate a pursuit but is a charge available incidental to a pursuit that has been undertaken for another lawful reason.
(3) The criminal offence of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle arising out of the pursuit itself is not sufficient grounds to continue the pursuit.
Non – Criminal Offences
(1) No pursuit SHALL be initiated or continued for a non–criminal offence if the identity of an individual in the motor vehicle is known.
(2) A pursuit for a non–criminal offence SHALL be abandoned once the motor vehicle is identified or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle is identified.
Responsibility for Safe Conduct
The responsibility for the safe conduct of a pursuit rests with the
individual police officer, the Communications Operator – Communications Services, the pursuit supervisor and any other authorized person monitoring the pursuit.
Responsibility for Safe Conduct
Members are reminded that the Service has installed Automated Vehicle Location System (AVLS) equipment in all marked vehicles that are equipped with a Mobile Workstation (MWS). This system was designed, purchased and installed to
Enhance officer safety. AVLS uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network to determine the location, speed and direction of a marked vehicle at a specific date and time. At designated intervals, the GPS data received by the AVLS equipment is transmitted to and capable of being viewed using the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
Public Safety Factors
Members SHALL continually assess the following factors when involved in or when monitoring a pursuit. These factors are not in order of priority and SHALL be given equal consideration
- nature and seriousness of the offence involving a suspect in the motor vehicle
- information on the occupants of the motor vehicle, if known, including whether they are armed, suspects in a violent crime, or there is reason to believe they are about to commit a violent crime
- nature, condition and type of area (residential, industrial, playground, etc.)
- presence of pedestrians or other traffic
- time of day
- apparent age of the driver
- weather and road conditions
- manner in which the pursued motor vehicle is being operated
- presence in the pursued motor vehicle of individuals who are not suspects
- length of time and distance involved
- type of vehicles involved in the pursuit (motorcycle, car, truck)
- presence in the police vehicle of non–police passengers
- limits on the police officer’s ability to operate the police vehicle at the speeds reached during the pursuit
- availability of other means of apprehension
Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Restrictions
(1) A police officer in an unmarked motor vehicle SHALL not engage in a pursuit unless a marked motor vehicle is not readily available, and the police officer believes that it is necessary to immediately apprehend an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle or to identify the fleeing motor vehicle or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle.
(2) Motorcycle and all–terrain vehicle operators SHALL not engage in a pursuit.
(3) No more than two (2) motor vehicles should be directly engaged in a pursuit unless authorized by the pursuit supervisor.
(4) Complete or partial roadblocks may only be used in extreme circumstances and must be authorized by a road supervisory officer and/or the pursuit supervisor.
(5) The following of a pursuit on a parallel route is prohibited unless directed by the pursuit supervisor.
Firearms Discharge
Discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle is an ineffective method of disabling the vehicle. Discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle may
present a hazard to both the officer and to the public. Members are prohibited from discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle for the sole purpose of disabling the vehicle.
Firearms Discharge
Members SHALL not discharge a firearm at the operator or occupants of a motor vehicle unless there poses an
immediate threat of death or grievous bodily harm to officers and or members of the public by a means other than the vehicle. Members SHALL be cognizant that disabling the operator of the motor vehicle thereby disabling the control over the motor vehicle may also present a hazard to both the officer and the public.
Firearms Discharge
Except while in a motor vehicle, members SHALL not place themselves in
the path of an occupied motor vehicle with the intention of preventing its escape. Additionally, members should not attempt to disable an occupied vehicle by reaching into it.
Alternative to Pursuit
Prior to a pursuit, police officers SHALL consider the alternatives described in the Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Training Manual developed by the Ontario Police College. These alternatives include
(1) strategic following
(2) follow–up investigation
(3) the Tandem Stop
(4) use of tire deflation devices, when available
(5) the use of a helicopter, when available
(6) strategic use of rear, side and combination methods for stopping vehicles
Methods of Terminating a Pursuit
During a pursuit, police officers and pursuit supervisors SHALL consider methods of terminating a pursuit as described in the Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Training Manual developed by the Ontario Police College. These methods include:
(1) strategic pursuing
(2) abandoning
(3) use of tire deflation devices, when available
(4) rolling block
(5) stationary roadblock
(6) pinning
(7) intentional contact
Methods of Terminating a Pursuit
Police officers may only intentionally cause a marked or unmarked motor vehicle to come into physical contact with a fleeing motor vehicle for the purposes of
stopping it, where the police officer believes on REASONABLE GROUNDS that to do so is necessary to immediately protect against the loss of life or serious bodily harm. In considering this action, police officers SHALL assess the impact of the action on the safety of other members of the public and other police officers.
Methods of Terminating a Pursuit
Police officers may cause a marked or unmarked motor vehicle to come into physical contact with the fleeing motor vehicle for the purposes of ______. Police officers involved in a pursuit with the assistance of additional police officers in marked or unmarked motor vehicles may attempt to safely position their ____
pinning the fleeing motor vehicle, if the fleeing motor vehicle has lost control or collided with an object and come to a stop and the driver of the fleeing motor vehicle continues to try to use it to flee
marked or unmarked motor vehicles in such a manner as to prevent the movement, either forwards or backwards, of the fleeing motor vehicle.
Methods of Terminating a Pursuit
As a termination method, strategic pursuing is the primary driving mode during an active pursuit. The intent of this technique is that by significantly increasing the distance between the marked or unmarked motor vehicle and the fleeing motor vehicle, the fleeing driver will seize the opportunity to stop and abandon the fleeing motor vehicle. When using this technique police officers SHALL
- activate all emergency equipment
- follow the fleeing motor vehicle from a significantly increased distance.
Methods of Terminating a Pursuit
By doing so, the police officers’ “target fixation” will be reduced, allowing for better control of sensory and physical multi-tasking functions and offer the driver an opportunity to abandon the fleeing motor vehicle and flee on foot. Strategic pursuing may be used until
- the driver stops voluntarily
- another termination method is employed, or
- the pursuit is abandoned.
- Strategic pursuing is the primary driving mode during a pursuit and fully activated emergency equipment must be deployed. Strategic pursuing is not to be utilized once a pursuit has been abandoned.
Methods of Terminating a Pursuit
When the fleeing motor vehicle is a large truck, bus, motorcycle, or off-road vehicle, use only the following methods to terminate a pursuit
- strategically pursue the fleeing motor vehicle with emergency equipment activated until the fleeing motor vehicle stops, or
- abandon the pursuit.
Reporting of Pursuits
Following every pursuit, the police officer initiating the pursuit SHALL
complete a TPS 348 prior to the completion of their tour of duty. In addition, where no suspect has been apprehended, the police officer SHALL complete the applicable eReport prior to the completion of their tour of duty.
Reporting of Pursuits
For the purposes of pursuit reporting under Part “B” of the TPS 348, the police officer SHALL indicate in the required section
- the specific reason for stopping the motor vehicle and justification for initiating the pursuit
- the justification for continuing the pursuit
- the risk to public safety throughout the pursuit
- the names and employee numbers of the pursuit supervisor and the available road supervisor
- the summary of the report SHALL describe, in narrative format, a brief, chronological, synopsis of the events pertaining to the pursuit, including the point where the fleeing motor vehicle and/or individuals in the fleeing motor vehicle were identified. Personal identifiers, e.g. names of police officers, vehicle licence plate numbers etc., should not be recorded in this section of the report
Pursuits Involving More Than One (1) Police Service
When there is more than one (1) police service involved in the pursuit, the responsible supervisor is the supervisor in
the jurisdiction where the pursuit is initiated until the pursuit is handed over to the other police service. Where a pursuit has covered more than one (1) police service jurisdiction, the police service in the jurisdiction where the pursuit began SHALL ensure co–ordination of a joint Fail to Stop Report.
Police Officer
- When a driver of a fleeing motor vehicle refuses to stop, and circumstances dictate that a pursuit will not be initiated SHALL
- Advise Communications Operator – Communications Services (Communications Operator)
- prior to the completion of the tour of duty, complete
o the applicable sections of a TPS 348
o a TPS 227, if applicable
o the applicable eReports
Police Officer
- When a driver of a fleeing motor vehicle refuses to stop, and a pursuit is initiated SHALL
- immediately advise the Communications Operator of the driver’s refusal
- assess the public safety factors and continuously update the Communications Operator with
o the description of the fleeing motor vehicle, speed, location, and direction of travel
o information on the nature and seriousness of the offence
o the presence of pedestrians or other traffic
o road and weather conditions
o the manner in which the fleeing motor vehicle is being operated
o any other public safety factors - activate the emergency lights and siren, if equipped
- activate the In–Car Camera System (ICCS), if equipped
- For the protection of the public and members, police officers SHALL not adjust the ICCS while actively engaged in apprehending or pursuing a fleeing motor vehicle.
- comply with any directions given by the pursuit supervisor
- A police officer may be held liable for any Criminal Code or Highway Traffic Act offence committed in relation to the pursuit.
- remain on the assigned channel, unless otherwise instructed by the Communications Operator
- advise the pursuit supervisor of any methods to be used to terminate the pursuit, when practicable
