Vehicle Operations

Chapter 7

Department Policy

• Most cars are equipped with GPS– Record time and distance– Braking– Emergency equipment operation

• Remember distance is response time• Don’t assume they will see you and will stop

or pull over• Pursuit policy – what’s allowed

State Law

• Response TO the scene• Were you assigned? • Lights AND Siren required by law• Registered owner can be summonsed for

failure to yield to emergency vehicle• “Duty to drive with due regard for safety”• School bus w/red lights displayed – complete

stop & a signal by bus driver

State Law

• “reckless disregard for the safety of others”

• YOU are responsible for the safe operation of your vehicle

Visibility

• Marked or unmarked – everybody knows who you are

• Bad driving is most likely to generate citizen complaints

• Leading cause of on-duty injuries• Second leading cause of on-duty deaths

(2011)

Vehicle Stops• Never routine• You have a reason to stop but they may think

it is for something else• Same direction – get behind, watch operation

(OUI) and signal with lights and siren• Different direction – keep in sight, direction

reversal is dangerous, lights & siren to help with turn and to pursue

Vehicle Stops

• They may take off when they see your brake lights

• You pick the spot for the stop if possible – lighting, traffic, road characteristics (bridge, curve)

• Watch for evasive moves of the vehicle and movement within the vehicle

• When vehicle pulls over set up behind and create a safe lane for yourself

Vehicle Stop

• Call in your location, plate number, vehicle description and number of occupants to dispatch

• Light bar take down lights on, strobes put to rear only and spotlight on rear view mirror

• Write the plate number down before you leave your car

• Approach – driver’s side or passenger side – may depend on location

• Push down on trunk and leave fingerprint

Vehicle Stop

• Look over interior• Watch where they are reaching for paperwork• Review the paperwork– Current and valid – does it match what you’re

looking at– Is this your current address?

• Return to car to do checks, write ticket or FI card

• Use interior red light if available – night vision

The Tactical 8-Step Car Stop1. Greeting2. Identification (Self & Agency)

3. Reason For The Stop4. Justification (Short Pause)

5. Driver’s License (Personalize)

6. Registration/Insurance (Forecast Movement) (Return to your vehicle with: “For your safety & mine...”)

7. Decision8. Close

Vehicle Position – Low Risk

Pulled over on right side of road

Police

Bad Guy

Vehicle Position – High Risk

• Pulled over on right side of road – tires turned to left

Police

Bad Guy

Placement of vehicles

High Risk Pre-Stop Issues

• Prior to initiating the stop – notify dispatch– Confirm registration and description of vehicle– Request additional units– Signal 1000– EXACT location of stop– Number of persons in the vehicle– Notify units this will be a high risk stop

High Risk Vehicle Encounter

• The planned or unplanned encounter of motor vehicles using elevated tactics based on the type of suspected crime and/or suspect’s activity

• This stop will be conducted so that officers’ safety is maximized while minimizing the suspects options for resistance

The UnknownHigh Risk Encounters

• Suspect(s) in vehicles wanted for serious criminal offenses– Homicide– Robbery– Weapons

• Known Occupants– Drug interdiction– Stolen vehicles– Wanted suspects

• Every high risk encounter will be different – safety first

Planning Considerations

• Evaluate what you have – based on the information provided & your observations– Armed with a weapon– Armed with a firearm (what type)– Use or threatened use of a weapon– Vehicle has eluded you– Vehicle is stolen– Known suspect(s)

Planning Considerations

• Occupant Considerations– How many occupants are readily visible?– Size, sex, age, mental conditions are important

factors in measuring your control capability– What is the behavior and language of the occupants:

passive, agitated, aggressive…– Obscene gestures– Changing places inside the vehicle– Refusal to obey instructions– Seat belted

Location of the stop

• When you have the ability to plan a high risk encounter the location of it is critical

• Innocent persons in area– Select an area with little or no pedestrian traffic

• Cover– Maximize yours & minimize theirs

• Traffic– Select road with minimal traffic– Close down on-coming lane if possible

• Lighting– A well illuminated area can work for and against you– It can lessen the impact of the wall of light created by the patrol cars

High Risk – Felony Stop

• SOP• Primary officer gives commands and back up

officer provides cover• Have driver put car in park• Turn car off with left hand and put keys on roof• Keep both hands out window and palms up• Open door from outside, exit the car and walk

backward to the primary officer

High Risk Stop - Felony

• Handcuff, ask about weapons and/or other occupants

• Secure in cruiser• Empty the other passengers the same way• Approach car with shield if possible to check

passenger compartment and trunk

When does a vehicle encounter become a high risk encounter?

• Failure to comply with verbal commands• Refusing to shut off vehicle when asked• Refusing to step out of the vehicle when asked• Refusing to put the vehicle in park• Putting the vehicle into gear• Revving the engine

• Others…

Cruiser Cover

• http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-boomerang-bullet.html

• Where is the best place to be for maximum officer safety when utilizing a cruiser for cover?

Cruiser Cover• From Paul R. Howe –

Uncovered: The Myth of Cover from your Squad Car

• Vehicles can provide adequate cover if used correctly. The above picture is a ricochet from a Glock 30 (.45)acp from about 7 yards. The left hand indicates the impact point on the hood and the string the angle of take-off and impact on the target.

Cruiser Cover

• Picture shows multiple impact points from both hood strikes and from the windshield

Cruiser Cover

• Howe suggests not crowding cover and allowing the take-off angle of the bullet to work in your favor. He found that three good steps to the rear gave enough angle to protect you in the kneeling position

Cruiser Cover

• The above shot was from the front of the vehicle bouncing the .45 ACP 230 grain ball round off the hood, through the passenger compartment and into the target.

Cruiser Cover

• The third was missed and is about 2 steps back

Paul R. Howe – Uncovered: The Myth of Cover from Your Squad Car

• Crowding cover can have deadly consequences. Our tests were not scientific, but did show consistent take-off angles from the hood sideways, from the “V” front on and from the side of the car. By simply taking a few steps off your cover, you minimized the risk of taking a ricochet. Something to think about the next time you decide to use your vehicle as cover.

Emergency Driving

• What constitutes an emergency?• Requires lights AND siren• Intersection movement – emergency light(s)

position on your vehicle• Over driving your siren• You don’t do any good unless you get there• Civil liability

Emergency Driving

• Second emergency vehicle going through intersection

• Blind intersections• Other agencies responding – Fire Department,

EMS

Pursuits• Know the SOP• Decisions– Reason for the chase– Public safety/ your safety– Traffic/pedestrian volume– Type of vehicle– Time of day– Officer knowledge of area– Weather /road conditions– Communications – Supervisor approval

Pursuits

• Entering other jurisdictions• Other jurisdictions entering yours• Don’t take it personal• Know your ability and your vehicle’s ability

• Rolling roadblocks

Pursuits

• Ramming– Use of deadly force– Imminent danger to others– PIT maneuver

• Roadblocks– Require an escape route

Pursuits

• Spike strips• Not to be used on motorcycles, vehicles for

hire with passengers or vehicles with hazardous materials

• Shooting from moving vehicle• Shooting at moving vehicle

Transporting Prisoners

• Search back seat before & after transport• YOU search them if they are getting in your car• Handcuffed with palms away from each other

and key hole facing up on cuffs• Multiple cuffs if their flexibility is limited• Handcuffed and placed on passenger side –

not behind the driver• Seat belted – if possible

Transporting Prisoners

• Hog tied prisoner – good possibility of positional asphyxia

• Spit mask if necessary• Safety switch on ignition• Taking keys from ignition usually disables air

bags • Take the keys – lock the car