Patrol Operations Flashcards
Where Can you find FPD’s Pursuit Policy?
Section 314
What are Officer’s responsibilities in Vehicle Pursuits?
314.2
It shall be the policy of this department that a vehicle pursuit shall be conducted only with red light and siren (the “rumbler” is not considered a siren as defined by California Code of Regulations, Title XIII, Division II, Section 1021) as required by Vehicle Code § 21055 for exemption from compliance with the rules of the road. The following policy is established to provide officers with guidelines for driving with due regard and caution for the safety of all persons using the highway as required by Vehicle Code § 21056.
What California Vehicle Code section requires officers to pursue with Due Regard for all persons on the roadway?
VC 21506
When should an Officer initiate a pursuit?
314.2.1
Officers are authorized to initiate a pursuit when it is reasonable to believe that a suspect is attempting to evade arrest or detention by fleeing in a vehicle.
What factors do officers need to take into account when pursuing a vehicle?
- 2.1
(a) Seriousness of the known or reasonably suspected crime and its relationship to community safety.
(b) The importance of protecting the public and balancing the known or reasonably suspected offense and the apparent need for immediate capture against the risks to officers, innocent motorists and others.
(c) Apparent nature of the fleeing suspect(s) (e.g., whether the suspect(s) represent a serious threat to public safety).
(d) The identity of the suspect(s) has been verified and there is comparatively minimal risk in allowing the suspect(s) to be apprehended at a later time.
(e) Safety of the public in the area of the pursuit, including the type of area, time of day, the amount of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and the speed of the pursuit relative to these factors.
(f) Pursuing officer(s) familiarity with the area of the pursuit, the quality of radio communications between the pursuing units and the dispatcher/supervisor and the driving capabilities of the pursuing officers under the conditions of the pursuit.
(g) Weather, traffic and road conditions that substantially increase the danger of the pursuit beyond the worth of apprehending the suspect.
(h) Performance capabilities of the vehicles used in the pursuit in relation to the speeds and other conditions of the pursuit.
(i) Vehicle speeds.
(j) Other persons in or on the pursued vehicle (e.g., passengers, co-offenders and hostages).
(k) The age, if known, of the potential offender or persons in the pursued vehicle
(l) Availability of other resources such as helicopter assistance.
(m) The police unit is carrying passengers other than police officers. Pursuits should not be undertaken with a prisoner(s) in the police vehicle.
When should a pursuit be terminated?
314.2.2
Pursuits should be discontinued whenever the totality of objective circumstances known or which reasonably ought to be known to the officer or supervisor during the pursuit indicates that the present risks of continuing the pursuit reasonably appear to outweigh the risks resulting from the suspect’s escape.
How many units are authorized in a pursuit?
314.3
Pursuit units should be limited to three vehicles (two units and a supervisor); however, the number of units involved will vary with the circumstances. An officer or supervisor may request additional units to join a pursuit if, after assessing the factors outlined above, it appears that the number of officers involved would be insufficient to safely arrest the suspects. All other officers should stay out of the pursuit, but should remain alert to its progress and location. Any officer who drops out of a pursuit may then, if necessary, proceed to the termination point at legal speeds, following the appropriate rules of the road.
What is the role of the primary officer in the vehicle pursuit?
314.3.3
Notify the Dispatch Center that a vehicle pursuit has been initiated and as soon as practicable provide information including, but not limited to:
(a) Reason for the pursuit.
(b) Location and direction of travel.
(c) Speed of the fleeing vehicle.
(d) Description of the fleeing vehicle and license number, if known.
(e) Number of known occupants.
(f) The identity or description of the known occupants.
(g) Information concerning the use of firearms, threat of force, injuries, hostages or other unusual hazards.
What is the role of the secondary officer in the vehicle pursuit?
314.3.4
The second officer in the pursuit is responsible for the following:
(a) The officer in the secondary unit should immediately notify the dispatcher of entry into the pursuit.
(b) Remain a safe distance behind the primary unit unless directed to assume the role of primary officer, or if the primary unit is unable to continue the pursuit.
(c) The secondary officer should be responsible for broadcasting the progress of the pursuit unless the situation indicates otherwise.
What are officers, not involved in the vehicle pursuit authorized to do?
314.3.6
Officers authorized to trail or parallel the pursuit should obey all traffic laws without activating emergency equipment. However, officers are authorized to use emergency equipment at intersections along the pursuit path to clear intersections of vehicular and pedestrian traffic to protect the public.
Officers should remain in their assigned area and should not become involved with the pursuit unless directed otherwise by a supervisor.
Non-pursuing personnel needed at the termination of the pursuit should respond in a non-emergency manner, observing the rules of the road.
The primary and secondary units should be the only units operating under emergency conditions (red light and siren) unless other units are assigned to the pursuit. A supervisor may also operate under emergency conditions when he/she deems it necessary.
What are the supervisor’s responsibilities in regards to vehicle pursuits?
- 4
(a) Upon becoming aware of a pursuit, immediately ascertaining all reasonably available information to continuously assess the situation and risk factors associated with the pursuit in order to ensure that the pursuit is conducted within established department guidelines.
(b) Engaging in the pursuit, when appropriate, to provide on-scene supervision.
(c) Exercising management and control of the pursuit even if not engaged in it.
(d) Ensuring that no more than the number of required police units needed are involved in the pursuit under the guidelines set forth in this policy.
(e) Directing that the pursuit be terminated if, in his/her judgment, it is unjustified to continue the pursuit under the guidelines of this policy.
(f) Ensuring that aircraft are requested if available.
(g) Ensuring that the proper radio channel is being used.
(h) Ensuring the notification and/or coordination of outside agencies if the pursuit either leaves or is likely to leave the jurisdiction of this agency.
(i) Controlling and managing FPD units when a pursuit enters another jurisdiction.
(j) Preparing post-pursuit critique and analysis of the pursuit for training purposes.
What is the watch commander’s responsibility duty vehicle pursuits?
314.4.1
Upon becoming aware that a pursuit has been initiated, the Watch Commander (or sergeant when no lieutenant is available) should monitor and continually assess the situation and ensure the pursuit is conducted within the guidelines and requirements of this policy. The Watch Commander (or sergeant when no lieutenant is available) has the final responsibility for the coordination, control and termination of a motor vehicle pursuit and shall be in overall command.
The Watch Commander (or sergeant when no lieutenant is available) shall review all pertinent reports for content and forward to the Division Commander.
When can an officer utilize the PIT?
314.7.1
Use of pursuit intervention tactics should be employed only after approval of a supervisor. In deciding whether to use intervention tactics, officers/supervisors should balance the risks of allowing the pursuit to continue with the potential hazards arising from the use of each tactic to the public, the officers and persons in or on the pursued vehicle. With these risks in mind, the decision to use any intervention tactic should be reasonable in light of the circumstances confronting the officer at the time of the decision.
It is imperative that officers act within the bounds of legality, good judgment and accepted practices.
What is an Officer’s responsibility responding to a call “Code 3?”
316.4
If an officer believes a Code-3 response to any call is appropriate, the officer shall immediately notify the Dispatch Center. Generally, only one unit should respond Code-3 to any situation. Should another officer believe a Code-3 response is appropriate, the Dispatch Center shall be notified and the Watch Commander or field supervisor will make a determination as to whether one or more officers driving Code-3 is appropriate.
316.5
The decision to continue a Code-3 response is at the discretion of the officer. If, in the officer’s judgment, the roadway conditions or traffic congestion does not permit such a response without unreasonable risk, the officer may elect to respond to the call without the use of red lights and siren at the legal speed limit. In such an event, the officer should immediately notify the Dispatch Center. An officer shall also discontinue the Code-3 response when directed by a supervisor.
Upon receiving authorization or determining a Code-3 response is appropriate, an officer shall immediately give the location from which he/she is responding.
What is a supervisor’s responsibility when notified an officer is responding code 3?
316.7
Upon being notified that a Code-3 response has been initiated, the Watch Commander or the field supervisor shall verify the following:
(a) The proper response has been initiated
(b) No more than those units reasonably necessary under the circumstances are involved in the response
(c) Affected outside jurisdictions are being notified as practical
It is the supervisor’s responsibility to terminate a Code-3 response that, in his/her judgment is inappropriate due to the circumstances.
When making the decision to authorize a Code-3 response, the Watch Commander or the field supervisor should consider the following:
• The type of call
• The necessity of a timely response
• Traffic and roadway conditions
• Time of day
• The location of the responding units
What should officers consider in regards to handling W&I 5150’s?
418.3
Any officer responding to or handling a call involving a suspected mentally disabled individual or an involuntary mental illness commitment should consider utilizing the following as time and circumstances reasonably permit:
(a) Any available information that might assist in determining the cause and nature of the mental illness or developmental disability.
(b) Conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques.
(c) Language that is appropriate for interacting with a mentally disabled person.
(d) If circumstances permit, alternatives to deadly force.
(e) Any available community resources that can assist in dealing with a mentally disabled individual.
What is the response when dealing with a violent 5150 who needs to be transported to ARMC?
418.3.2
If the patient is violent or potentially violent, the officer will notify the staff of this concern. The staff member in charge will have discretion as to whether soft-restraints will be used. If these restraints are desired, the officer will wait while they are being applied to help provide physical control of the patient, if needed.
What must an officer do if the detained 5150 needs to be charged with a crime?
418.4
When practical, any person charged with a crime who also appears to be mentally ill shall be booked at the Fontana Police Department before being transported to the authorized facility. If the person has injuries or some other medical condition, he/she may be taken directly to the hospital with the approval of a supervisor.
What should an officer do in regards to weapons after a 5150 has been detained?
418.5
Whenever a person has been detained or apprehended for examination pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code § 5150, the handling officer shall seek to determine if the person owns or has access to any firearm or other deadly weapon. Officers should check AFIS (Automated Firearms Information System) to determine if the subject owns a firearm. Any such firearm or other deadly weapon shall be confiscated in a manner consistent with current search and seizure law (Welfare and Institutions Code § 8102(a)).
Do officers need a search warrant to recover weapons from a 5150’s residence?
418.5
Officers are cautioned that a search warrant may be needed before entering a residence or other place to search unless lawful, warrantless entry has already been made (e.g., exigent circumstances, valid consent) (Penal Code § 1524).