NCJ Number
67265
Journal
Police Product News Volume: 4 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1980) Pages: 42-43,86-88
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A POLICE TRAINING CENTER WHICH EMPHASIZES THE SPECIAL SKILLS NEEDED TO DRIVE POLICE CARS IN OFTEN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS OF HOT PURSUIT, IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
PROMPTED BY A CONCERN FOR SAVING LIVES AND A DESIRE TO CONFORM POLICE DRIVING HABITS WITH NEW REALITIES, A NEW TYPE OF DRIVING SCHOOL, THE NATIONAL ACADEMY FOR POLICE DRIVING, WAS FOUNDED IN 1975. ONE OF THE COFOUNDERS, A FORMER PROFESSIONAL RACE TRACK DRIVER AND CURRENTLY A UNIFORMED POLICEMAN, TEACHES POLICE OFFICERS THE BASIC AND FINER POINTS OF DRIVING. SPEED IS CONSTANTLY DEEMPHASIZED. BECAUSE THE PUBLIC NO LONGER TOLERATES HIGHSPEED CHASES AND TENDS TO PLACE THE BLAME FOR ANY DEATHS CAUSED BY SUCH INCIDENTS ON THE POLICE, OFFICERS ARE TAUGHT NEW TECHNIQUES, WHICH ARE AIMED AT SAVING POLICE LIVES AND AT PREVENTING LAWSUITS BROUGHT AGAINST POLICE DEPARTMENTS BY THE FAMILIES OF INDIVIDUALS INJURED OR KILLED IN POLICE CHASES. THE ARTICLE REPORTS A HARROWING INCIDENT IN WHICH AN OFFICER FOLLOWING A SUSPECT (BUT NOT PURSUING AT A HIGH SPEED) WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE PATH OF AN ONCOMING TRAIN BY MEANS OF A SKILLFUL, SPLIT-SECOND MANEUVER HE HAD LEARNED AT THE ACADEMY. (LGR)