This directive is for departmental use only and does not apply in any criminal or civil proceeding. The department policy should not be construed as a creation of higher legal standard of safety or care in an evidentiary sense with respect to third party claims.

In carrying out our duties as police officers it may be necessary to have a vehicular pursuit to apprehend fleeing suspects. It is the responsibility of the department to assist officers in the safe performance of their duties. To effect these obligations, it shall be the policy of the department to narrowly regulate the manner in which vehicular pursuits are undertaken and performed.

Vehicular Pursuit: An active attempt by an officer in an authorized public safety vehicle to apprehend fleeing suspects who are attempting to avoid apprehension.

Public Safety Vehicle: Motor vehicles used by public law enforcement officers or other persons sworn to enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state. (ORC 4511.01 (E)(2)

Reasonable Belief: The facts or circumstances the officer knows, or should know, are such as to cause an ordinary and prudent person to act or think in a similar way under similar circumstances.

It is the policy of this department to protect all persons' lives to the extent possible when enforcing the law by providing officers with guidelines to be followed during vehicular pursuits.

The decision to initiate pursuit must be based on the pursuing officer's reasonable belief that the immediate danger to the public created by the pursuit is less than the immediate or potential danger to the public, the suspect, or the officer should the suspect remain at large.

Any law enforcement officer in an authorized public safety vehicle may initiate a vehicular pursuit when ALL of the following criteria are met:

The pursuing officer shall consider the following factors in determining whether to initiate pursuit:

The pursuing officer shall immediately notify the dispatcher that a pursuit is underway. The officer shall provide the dispatchers with the following information:

Failure to provide this information to the dispatcher may result in an immediate decision by the shift supervisor to order its termination.

The primary pursuit unit shall reduce the level of pursuit to that of support or backup unit where:

Any primary or backup unit sustaining damage to, or failure of essential vehicular equipment during pursuit shall not be permitted to continue in the pursuit. The unit shall notify the dispatcher that the unit is breaking off of the pursuit.

Upon notification that a pursuit is in progress, the dispatcher shall immediately, notify if necessary, the shift supervisor and advise him of essential information regarding the pursuit.

The dispatcher shall carry out the following activities and responsibilities during the pursuit:

Upon notification that a vehicular pursuit incident is in progress, the shift supervisor shall assume responsibility for the monitoring and control of the pursuit as it progresses.

The shift supervisor shall continuously review the incoming data to determine whether the pursuit should be continued or terminated.

In controlling the pursuit incident, the shift supervisor shall be responsible for coordination of the pursuit as follows:

The shift supervisor may approve and assign additional backup vehicles or air support units to assist the primary and backup pursuit vehicles based on an analysis of:

Each unit authorized to engage in vehicular pursuit shall be required to activate light bar, siren, and headlight flasher prior to beginning pursuit.

Officers engaged in pursuit shall at all times drive in a manner exercising due regard for the safety of themselves and all other persons and property within the pursuit area.

Where authorized by law officers are permitted to suspend conformance with normal traffic regulations during pursuit as long as reasonable care is used when driving in a manner not otherwise permitted, and the maneuver is reasonably necessary to gain control of the suspect. (SEE ORC 4511.03 & 4511.24)

Unless expressly authorized by a shift supervisor, pursuit shall be limited to the assigned primary and back up vehicles. Officers are not otherwise permitted to join the pursuit team, or follow the pursuit on parallel streets.

Officers may not intentionally use their vehicle to bump or ram the suspect's vehicle in order to force the vehicle to a stop off the road or in a ditch.

Departmental policy pertaining to use of deadly force shall be adhered to during the pursuit. (see 1.3)

A decision to terminate pursuit may be the most rational means of preserving the lives and property of both the public, and the officers and suspects engaged in pursuit. Pursuit may be terminated by the pursuing officer, the shift supervisor or Chief of Police.

Pursuit shall be immediately terminated in any of the following circumstances:

The pursuing officer shall relay this information to the dispatchers along with any further information acquired which may assist in an arrest at a later date.

The pursuing officer shall notify the dispatchers when it is likely that a pursuit will continue into a neighboring jurisdiction, or across the state line.

Pursuits that are initiated outside the departments jurisdiction and enters this jurisdiction shall be conducted in conformance with this written directive. Supervisors can authorize back-up to another jurisdiction in pursuit only when the circumstances of the pursuit is in compliance with this written directive.

Administrative review of pursuits.