NCJ Number
114507
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 57 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1988) Pages: 7-11
Date Published
1988
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Conditioning, attitude, and training each plays an important role in successfully completing a vehicle pursuit without injury to the officer, the suspect, or the public.
Abstract
Agencies should have a written pursuit policy that covers safety, authority in determining whether to continue or terminate a pursuit, the supervisor's role and responsibility, forcible stops, and use of firearms. Once developed and implemented, the policy should be reinforced through training and supervision. Because of the variables that must be analyzed in deciding on a pursuit, officers must be conditioned through attitude and training to respond correctly. Poor driver judgment and attitudes, such as overconfidence, impatience, and abuses of the vehicle, often contribute to pursuit accidents. An effective driver training program must begin with basic skills and build to more complex techniques required in pursuit driving. Five phases of training should be considered essential: vehicle placement, defensive driving, skid control, performance driving, and pursuit/emergency response (code-3 techniques). Because code-3 driving frequently requires split-second timing and instant reactions, moves must be planned ahead so that valuable moments will not be wasted in panic or indecision. Finally, primary consideration must be given to determine whether the risks to the officer or the public during a pursuit are worth the possible outcome.