NCJ Number
80311
Journal
Police Product News Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1982) Pages: 28-35
Date Published
1982
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Based on suggestions from instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and a California police department, this article describes methods to minimize danger to police officers when they stop vans.
Abstract
Although van stops can be extremely dangerous, few police departments provide any training in handling these problems. A training officer of the U.S. Park Police surveyed other agencies for help and only found a slide presentation videotape put together by the police department in Concord, Calif. The Concord method states that officers must call for backup if they have any suspicion that the van's occupants might be dangerous and prefers two backup cars. Photographs and diagrams demonstrate positions for two and three patrol cars which offer maximum ballistic protection. Guidelines for ordering the driver and other passengers out of the van are presented, as are tactics for approaching the van. Officers should remember that vans have four or six exit points and that heavy weapons may be mounted in the rear. Experts agreee that officers should always wait for a backup and then stop the van at a place of their own choosing. Tear gas provides a safer alternative to physically approaching the van but should be used only when repeated efforts have been made to talk the occupants out. A 12 gauge barricade-penetrating tear gas projectile aimed at the upper part of the van body is recommended. During the final physical approach, the officer should be protected by armor and supported by heavily armed police. All egress points should be sealed, if possible. FLETC urges that officers seal every possible exit in the van before making a final assault by driving a tractor trailer alongside tightly or pushing an unmanned police car into the van's rear. Officers should stay out of line of the side mirrors and ideally wear ballistic helmets. An alternative taught in some agencies is to hook up the van and tow it to a more advantageous site for searching. Photographs and diagrams are included.