LE045 - SAP suspect Apprehension Pursuit

Question 1

A SAP shall?

Answer 1

a. Not create a greater danger to the public than it is intended to solve.

b. be the choice of last resort, and

c. Strictly adheres to the provisions of this procedures

Question 2

What is the three part test? for a SAP

Answer 2

(a)There is reason to believe that a criminal offence has been or is about to be committed; or there is a need to identify the subject vehicle or an individual in the subject vehicle;

(b)There are no alternative methods of apprehension available as set out in this Procedure; and

(c)The immediate need to apprehend an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle or identify the vehicle or an individual in the vehicle outweighs the risk to public safety that may result from the SAP.

Question 3

What are the methods of terminating a SAP?

Answer 3

(a) tire de ation device;
(b) rolling block;
(c) overt vehicle containment (may be utilized in conjunction with a rolling block to contain the suspect’s vehicle once stopped OR where the suspect’s vehicle has come to a stop and is used to prevent the vehicle from being set in motion);
(d) discontinue;
(e) pinning;
(f) intentional contact;
(g) stationary roadblock (only under the authorization of the Pursuit Supervisor); or
(h) Air Support / AIR2.

Question 4

What information should be provided to dispatch before initiating a tandem stop?

Answer 4

· the vehicle description;
· location;
· speed;
· direction of travel of the subject vehicle;
· the number and description of the occupants;
· any request for assistance with a tandem stop; and
· the time when both police vehicles are in position to coordinate the activation of the emergency equipment to signal the driver in the subject vehicle to stop.

Question 5

What is required for a OVC (Overt Vehicle Containment)?

Answer 5

(a) Overt Vehicle Containment may be employed when the following factors are present:

1. there are reasonable grounds for arrest or Mental Health Act apprehension; or
2. the driver of the motor vehicle is experiencing a medical emergency; and
3. the driver is non-compliant or uncooperative and fails to comply with the Police O fficer’s direction; and the subject vehicle may be set in motion.

Question 6

When should a SAP be discontinued?

Answer 6

Discontinuing a SAP is the appropriate action when:
(a)the Risk to Public Safety caused by the pursuit is greater than the

(i);Risk to Public Safety caused by the offence that was committed or that is about to be committed or

(ii) the Risk to Public Safety caused by the pursuit outweighs the need to apprehend an individual in the fleeing vehicle or identify the fleeing vehicle or an individual in the fleeing vehicle; or
(iii)the vehicle or an occupant in the vehicle has been identified in accordance with section E of this Procedure.

(b) The decision to discontinue a SAP should be made well in advance of any known approaching hazards, as suspects may not slow down until they are satis ed that they have evaded apprehension.

Question 7

Stationary Roadblock

Answer 7

(a)Stationary roadblocks may only be used to terminate a SAP when authorized by the Pursuit Supervisor.

(b)Prior to authorizing the use of a stationary roadblock, the Pursuit Supervisor shall consider:
(i) the number of available police vehicles; and
(ii) relevant “public safety factors” (listed in Section “F” of this Procedure).

(c) Police Officers utilizing a stationary roadblock shall:
(i) make use of locations where visibility is clear of natural or man-made obstructions;
(ii) make use of re ective markings and available street lighting;
(iii) to increase visibility of the roadblock, consider the use of emergency devices such as flares, tra ffic cones and triangles;
(iv) utilize only unoccupied marked police vehicles with the emergency lighting activated;
(v) allow for a clearly defined and readily visible lane for the passage of traffic (escape route) as the driver of the fleeing motor vehicle may be unable or determined not to stop for the roadblock;
(vi) to improve the effectiveness of the stationary roadblock, consider the use of a tire de ation device in the escape route;
(vii) when on foot, take cover well away from the stationary roadblock; and
(viii) since a stationary roadblock may only slow the subject vehicle, consider positioning another occupied police vehicle some distance beyond the roadblock to stop oncoming tra c, and if necessary, to continue to pursue the subject’s vehicle.

Question 8

Once a SAP has been discontinued, no o cer shall re-engage the vehicle in a subsequent pursuit unless:

Answer 8

(a) permission is given by the Police Supervisor or the RTOC who has been advised that additional information and the circumstances that caused the pursuit to be discontinued have substantially changed and the need to apprehend the fleeing driver outweighs the risk to the public caused by the original offence or the offence that is about to be committed, if the vehicle is re-engaged;

(b) the Three Part Test in section “E” of this Procedure has been applied and is met and the Public Safety Factors listed in sections “F” of this Procedure have been assessed; and

(c) all necessary information has been broadcasted via radio to communications.

Question 9

What are the duties of a Pursuit Supervisor?

Answer 9

a) immediately acknowledge via voice radio that he/she is in control of the SAP by stating that they are in control of the pursuit (e.g. “This is Communications Supervisor, I am controlling the pursuit” or “PS40, I am controlling the pursuit”.);

(b) if practical, stop their vehicle to maintain objectivity;

(c) ensure that there are generally only two police vehicles in pursuit of the fleeing motor vehicle;)
(d)when necessary, direct additional police units to assist;

(e)when low profile vehicles or unmarked police vehicles are in pursuit of the fleeing motor vehicle, ensure that Police Officers in marked police vehicles, when available, assume the role of the primary and secondary police units;

(f) consider and coordinate the appropriate:
(i) Alternative Methods of preventing a SAP (section “G” of this Procedure); and
(ii) Termination Methods (section “H” of this Procedure) to stop the SAP;

(g)where applicable, assume responsibility for the safe and effective deployment of a stationary roadblock, taking into consideration the number of available police units and any relevant public safety factors (listed in Section “F” of this Procedure);

(h) continually monitor the progress of the SAP to ensure compliance with this Procedure;

(i)immediately order the discontinuation of a SAP when:
(i) it is not conducted in accordance with the Three Part Test;
(ii) the risk to public safety outweighs the need to apprehend the suspect(s);

(j) upon determining that a SAP will be discontinued:

(i) immediately transmit via voice radio that the SAP has been discontinued by stating “Pursuit Supervisor to all units engaged in the pursuit, discontinue, discontinue, discontinue the pursuit.”;

(k) wait for a response and then confirm with all police units known to be engaged in the SAP to acknowledge the order;

(l) in all SAPs resulting in a motor vehicle collision, ensure:
(i) that a Police Supervisor attends the scene;
(ii) preservation of the scene and any evidence including records of communications until the arrival of investigative and Forensic Identification personnel or the Special Investigations Unit;

(iii) that the RTOC is immediately notified of all incidents resulting in serious injury or death; and