Policy Text
OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
SPECIAL ORDER 9212
TO: All Sworn Personnel
SUBJECT: Vehicle Pursuits
EFFECTIVE DATE: 16 Dec 22
TERMINATION: Upon revision of Departmental General Order (DGO) J-04, Pursuit
Driving ; or at the direction of the Chief of Police
Scope and P urpose
Vehicle pursuits involve significant risk . Finding that the current situation constitutes an
emergency, the Chief of Police hereby orders the following requirements regarding vehicle
pursuits, pursuit supervision, and pursuit investigations:
Termination of Vehicle Pursuits Above Specified Speeds
Vehicle pursuits shall be terminated1 if the speed of the pursued or pursuing vehicles reaches or
exceeds 50 miles per hour (mph) on any roadway or off -road area that is not a controlled access
freeway (hereafter “city streets”) unless permission to exceed 50 mph is given by a watch
commander or command officer .
Involved personnel may request, and w atch commanders or command officers may provide , pre-
approval for speeds in excess of 50 mph .
Involved Personnel – Supervisors and Commanders
Any supervisor or commander who authorizes or monitors a pursuit , or who provides permission
to exceed 50 mph on city streets (hereafter “authorizing supervisors”) , is considered “involved
personnel.”
All authorizing supervisors shall complete a supplemental report following any pursuit.
Authorizing supervisors shall include in their report an analysis of the risk factors they
considered during the pursuit and an explanation of their decision to authorize or allow the
pursuit to continue, or their decision to provide permissi on to exceed 50 mph on city streets.
Pursuit Investigations – Reporting and Investigation Responsibilities
Authorizing supervisors shall not report, investigate, or review pursuit reports for incidents in
which they were involved.
1 Reference DGO J -04, IV, B, 2
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT 1 Dec 22
Special Order 9212
Page 2 of 2 Level 2 and 3 pursuits shall be reviewed via the chain of command up through Captain. If an
authorizing supervisor is a watch commander o r a lieutenant , that commander shall not be a part
of the review chain.
Pursuit Investigations – Level 3 Pursuits
Supervisors reporting Level 3 pursuits shall complete a pursuit report narrat ive which minimally
includes the following:
1. A brief summary of the pursuit , including the events that led to engaging in the pursuit;
2. Document ation of any discrepancies in reports of involved personnel ;
3. Analysis of relevant evidence including BWC video ;
4. A determination as to whether the pursuit was in compliance with Departmental policy ,
based on the analysis of the facts revealed by the investigation ; and
5. Documen tation of any relevant training issues revealed by the investigation .