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17.8 VEHICLE PURSUITS Page 1 of 9 EDGEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER #17. 8 VEHICLE PURSUITS Revised Date: September 12 , 2024 The Edgewood Police Department will make every reasonable effort to apprehend fleeing violators. Officers must always consider the safety of the public when responding to calls, pursuing violators or conducting felony traffic stops. Officers must always consider the dangers of a vehicle pursuit in relation to the lives or property of innocent users of the roadways, law enforcement officers, or the violator. Officers deciding to give chase must balance the need to stop a suspect against the potential thre at to everyone created by the pursuit. It must be so important to apprehend the suspect that officers are justified at placing an innocent third party at risk of losing their life and/or property. Cases where an officer follows a subject vehicle, but does not engage in apprehension efforts, do not constitute a vehicle pursuit. To follow means to drive in close proximity to a subject vehicle without using any apprehension efforts. The police vehicl e must adhere to traffic laws and traffic control devices. Following a subject for more than 15 minutes or following a subject vehicle out of the city limits of Edgewood requires supervisory notification. Once a subject vehicle speeds away ,takes evasive action , or commits traffic infractions, in an effort to distance itself from the police, regardless if emergency equipment has been activated, the officer shall immediately terminate following the vehicle unless it meets the criteria for a pursuit as descr ibed in this policy. If apprehension efforts are used, any driver of a suspect vehicle who fails to yield to apprehension efforts is nevertheless subject to prosecution for appropriate charges of fleeing to elude, resisting or obstruction. Fleeing and eluding a marked patrol vehicle that has both emergency lights and siren activated is a felony. This policy contains the following numbered sections: I. Scope II. Definitions III. Vehicle Pursuits IV. Communications Responsibilities V. Sovereign Immunity 17.8 VEHICLE PURSUITS Page 2 of 9 VI. Forms I. SCOPE This policy provides guidance and direction for the initiation and conduct of vehicle pursuits (also known as high -speed pursuits or vehicle chases). II. DEFINITIONS A. Emergency Response The operation of a police vehicle while constantly utilizing emergency lights and siren. Also known as 10 -18 or Code 3 response. B. Authorized Emergency Vehicle A police vehicle operating with its emergency equip ment activated and warning all other traffic by use of an audible signal and emergency lights. Only marked patrol vehicles will engage in a vehicle pursuit unless specifically authorized by the Chief of Police or his designee. C. Emergency Equipment The emergency lights and audible warning device/s installed on a department vehicle. D. Vehicle Pursuit An active attempt by a Law Enforcement Officer operating an authorized emergency vehicle and utilizing, or have attempted to use, emergency equipment to apprehend, or stop, another moving vehicle when the driver of the fleeing, evading, or eludin g vehicle is aware of the attempt and resists apprehension/the stop by taking evasive action. E. Vehicle Apprehension The tactics and strategies that are designed to take a suspect into custody who is in a moving vehicle that includes, but is not limited to , passive vehicles block , vehicle pursuit, utilization of tire deflation devices, or other approved tactics to apprehend suspect in a moving vehicle or stationary vehicle . F. Reasonable Suspicion For the purposes of this policy, an officer must be able to ar ticulate specific facts which, when taken in the totality of the circumstances , reasonably indicate that the suspect did commit or has attempted to commit a v iolent forcible felony as outlined in this policy. G. Termination of Pursuit/Following A pursu it or following shall be considered to have terminated when the initiating and secondary officers have completed both #1 and #2 listed below: 1. The initiating and any other officers involved shall turn o ff all emergency equipment. 17.8 VEHICLE PURSUITS Page 3 of 9 2. The initiating and any other off icers, turn their police vehicles in another direction of travel away from where the suspect’s vehicle was last seen heading, or pull to the side of the road if on a limited access roadway, and inform Communica tions of this fact along with their location. H. Traffic Stop An attempt, by use of an authorized emergency vehicle, with the use of emergency equipment, to apprehend occupants of a motor vehicle. I. Initiating Unit also known as primary unit The officer who initiates the vehicle pursuit or any emergency unit that assumes control of the pursuit as the lead vehicle. J. Secondary Unit The officer who trails the initiating unit at a safe distance. The primary role of the secondary unit is to prov ide radio communication of the pursuit. If the initiating unit drops out of the pursuit the secondary unit will take over as primary unit. K. Assist Unit/s Other officers who may assist the initiating and secondary unit. L. Tire Deflation Device/s Devic e/s manufactured solely for the use as a means of deflating vehicle tires whose use is approved by the Chief of Police or his designee. M. Evasive Action When a motor vehicle commits ONE or more of