Policy Text
07-04
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE
The following procedure addresses the
mentioned criteria. • SUPPORT UNIT
UNAUTHORIZED PURSUITS A police unit which trails the primary
unit, at a safe distance, will be
Officers will not engage in high-speed immediately available to assume the
pursuits under the following conditions: pursuit or assist the primary unit in the
event the fleeing vehicle is stopped. The
1. Minor traffic offense’s to include support unit is responsible for
eluding an officer solely from a traffic communicating the pursuit to the
infraction dispatcher [cfa 17.07m (c)]
2. Non-traffic misdemeanors
3. Any incident that poses no • BACK-UP UNIT
immediate danger to the public
4. Municipal ordinance violation With the exception of the primary and
support unit, all police vehicles
PURSUIT PROCEDURES cognizant of the pursuit shall become
back-up units. They will remain alert to
No more than two police vehicles may the direction and progress of the pursuit
be actively involved in a pursuit, unless and may position themselves at strategic
specifically directed otherwise by a sites along the probable pursuit route
supervisor. however, these units will not be operated
in an emergency mode. There shall be
The following are responsibilities no caravanning by field units directly in
assigned to units involved in the pursuit: the immediate pursuit.
• PRIMARY UNIT
The primary unit will generally be the • EMERGENCY VEHICLE
initiating officer, but in all cases will be
the unit in closest proximity to the High-speed pursuits will be conducted in
fleeing vehicle. strict compliance with the department’s
authorized guidelines and existing state
The primary unit or a unit in the closest statutes. Departmental vehicles shall not
proximity to the fleeing vehicle will exceed 20 mph over the posted speed
complete a vehicle pursuit critique form without permission of a supervisor.
immediately and attach the completed
form to the primary offense incident
report.
Page 2
07-04
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE
To diminish the likelihood of a pursuit 1. Number and description of
developing, officers intending to stop a occupants, if known
vehicle shall, when practicable, be 2. Traffic and weather conditions
within proximity to the vehicle prior to 3. Vehicle being operated, if it is
activating the emergency lights and other than a marked police unit
siren. [CFA 17.07m (b)]
Officers engaged in a high-speed pursuit
shall utilize all emergency equipment
including siren, emergency lights, OFFENSIVE TACTICS
headlights-day or night.
In the course of the pursuit, deliberate
Only department vehicles fully equipped contact between vehicles or forcing the
with operational emergency lights, siren pursued vehicle into parked cars,
and marked police vehicles are ditches, or any other obstacle; boxing in,
authorized to engage in pursuit driving heading off, ramming, or driving
operations. alongside the pursued vehicle while it is
in motion is prohibited.
However, operational staff (unmarked
vehicles) may engage in pursuit driving PASSING
operations until a marked unit can
become the primary unit. All units in pursuit, whether the vehicle
in front of the unit is the fleeing vehicle
NOTIFICATION RESPONSIBILITIES or another police vehicle, shall space
themselves at a distance that will ensure
The officer initiating a pursuit must
adequate braking.
immediately notify communications and
the shift supervisor that a pursuit is
TRAFFIC REGULATORY CONTROLS
underway. The officer must provide the
following information: Under Florida State Statutes, police
officers, while engaged in a pursuit with
1. Unit identification emergency equipment activated, are not
2. Location, speed, and direction of required to obey traffic regulatory
travel controls, but must slow down, as it may
3. Specific reason for the pursuit, be necessary for safe operation..
including known laws violated