4.23 Pursuit Policy

A. A pursuit is defined as the following of a law violator or suspected law violator who fails to stop.

B. A direct pursuit is defined as a police vehicle being operated as an emergency vehicle in which the officer has visual contact with the suspect vehicle being pursued.

C. Vehicles in direct pursuit must be operated with the red lights and siren both in operation.

D. Under normal circumstances, no more than two city police cars should be involved in direct pursuit.

E. At the start of the pursuit, the officer who began the pursuit has the initial responsibility to continue or terminate the pursuit. At anytime during the pursuit, the initiating officer has the obligation to terminate the pursuit if the safety conditions clearly override the necessity of the pursuit.

F. Once a pursuit has begun, the pursuing officer must declare the pursuit and relay the following information via the radio:

1. Location.

2. Direction of travel.

3. Estimated speed.

4. Description of vehicle and occupants.

5. Reason for the pursuit (traffic, criminal, etc.)

G. The supervisor’s role should be to direct and control the pursuit through communications. The supervisor’s concern should be safety, methods of identifying the occupants, and fleeing vehicle and coordinating all officers involved. A supervisor or any initiating pursuing officer should never hesitate to order termination of a pursuit if conditions warrant.

H. Radio discipline

1. At the beginning of the pursuit, the dispatcher will declare emergency radio traffic only (10-33).

2. The pursuing officer should keep dispatch advised of the progress of the pursuit, including direction of travel and other emergency information.

3. Only those officers assisting the pursuit should use the radio to relay vital information in short statements.

I. As soon as possible following a pursuit, an Officer’s Special report form will be written by the initiating officer listing the reason for the pursuit and the end results. The special will be forwarded through the chain of command to the Chief of Police.

J. Officers with civilian passengers will not engage in direct pursuits.

K. Outside Agency Pursuits

1. Any pursuit which is initiated by an outside agency that enters Lawrence city limits is the responsibility of the agency which began the pursuit.

2. It shall be the responsibility of the shift supervisor to determine the degree of involvement, if any, in the pursuit. The shift supervisor will make every reasonable effort to terminate the pursuit at city limits.

3. Pursuits began by an outside agency which enter the city limits should have no more than one city of Lawrence police vehicle directly involved, excluding road blocks.