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POL-110Police OperationsSOG

Vehicle Pursuit

Initiation, supervision, termination, and intervention techniques.

Draft — awaiting subject-matter-expert sign-off.

This template has been authored from the standards listed below but has not yet been reviewed by a named SME. Do not adopt without review through your authority having jurisdiction.

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Number

POL-110

Version

1.0

Last reviewed

2026-05-01

Next review

2027-05-01

Summary

This policy establishes when [AGENCY NAME] officers may initiate and continue a vehicle pursuit, the supervisor's role, and the use of pursuit intervention techniques. The goal is to balance apprehension of fleeing offenders against the substantial risk pursuits pose to officers, the public, and the fleeing party.

Definitions

Vehicle Pursuit
An active attempt by an officer in a marked or unmarked vehicle to apprehend a driver who is fleeing in a motor vehicle and who has indicated, by speed, course, or maneuver, an unwillingness to stop.
Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT)
A controlled-collision maneuver to stop a fleeing vehicle. Authorized only per training, speed limits, and supervisor approval.
Tire Deflation Device (TDD)
A spike strip or equivalent device used to deflate tires. Deployed only by trained officers and only in conditions permitting safe deployment.

Purpose

To minimize the risk of injury, death, and property damage from vehicle pursuits while preserving the ability to apprehend persons who pose serious threats to public safety.

Scope

Applies to all sworn members operating an agency vehicle.

Authorization to Pursue

  • A pursuit is authorized only when the officer reasonably believes the driver or an occupant has committed or is committing a violent felony, or where the immediate apprehension of the driver is necessary to prevent imminent serious bodily harm.
  • Pursuit for minor traffic offenses, status offenses, equipment violations, or stolen-vehicle offenses absent additional circumstances is not authorized.
  • Officers shall consider the totality of circumstances: severity of the underlying offense, road and weather conditions, time of day, traffic density, pedestrian presence, school zones, urban vs. rural setting, the officer's familiarity with the area, vehicle type and condition.

Officer Responsibilities

  1. Immediately notify dispatch of: pursuit initiation, reason, location, direction of travel, vehicle description, plate, occupants, speed, traffic and weather conditions.
  2. Continuously update dispatch with location and speed.
  3. Operate the agency vehicle with due regard for the safety of all persons.
  4. Use emergency lights and siren throughout the pursuit.
  5. Continuously reassess whether continuing the pursuit is justified.
  6. Disengage if directed by a supervisor, if conditions change to make the pursuit unsafe, or if the threat to public safety from continued pursuit exceeds the threat from non-apprehension.

Supervisor Responsibilities

  • On notification, a supervisor monitors the pursuit and exercises command.
  • Confirms initial justification.
  • Continuously evaluates whether to continue, modify, or terminate.
  • Coordinates resources — secondary unit, air support if available, mutual aid, intervention.
  • Terminates the pursuit when continued pursuit risks outweigh apprehension value.
  • Documents the supervisor's role and decisions in the pursuit report.

Termination Required When

  • The supervisor orders termination.
  • The officer loses radio contact with dispatch.
  • The pursuit enters conditions that pose unreasonable risk (wrong-way driving on freeway, school dismissal zone, dense pedestrian area, severe weather).
  • Identity of the driver is known and the violation does not require immediate apprehension.
  • Equipment failure on the pursuing vehicle.
  • Officer disorientation or fatigue.

Number of Units

  • Primary pursuit unit communicates with dispatch.
  • One secondary unit provides backup; additional units stay clear unless directed.
  • Parallel pursuit on alternate routes is prohibited unless coordinated.
  • Inter-agency assistance per mutual-aid agreement and only with supervisor authorization.

Pursuit Intervention Techniques

Tire Deflation Devices

  • Deployed only by officers trained and currently certified in TDD use.
  • Deploying officer establishes a safe position perpendicular to the suspect's path with adequate cover.
  • Notifies pursuing units of deployment location and timing.
  • Used only where the deployment site is safe for the deploying officer, pursuing units, and bystanders.
  • Not deployed against motorcycles or commercial vehicles unless deadly force is justified.

PIT Maneuver

  • Performed only by trained and currently certified officers.
  • Used only at speeds within training parameters (typically below 35–40 mph; agency to specify).
  • Requires supervisor authorization where time permits.
  • Considered a use of force; reported per the Response to Resistance Reporting policy.
  • Not used against motorcycles, vehicles known to contain non-suspect occupants (e.g., kidnap victim), or commercial vehicles carrying hazardous loads.

Boxing-In / Channelization / Forcible Stop

  • Permitted only with supervisor authorization, at slow speed or when the suspect vehicle is stopped.
  • Officers position vehicles to channel the suspect away from civilians and toward containment.

Firearms

  • Officers shall not discharge a firearm at or from a moving vehicle except where deadly force is justified by the conduct of an occupant of the vehicle independent of the vehicle's movement.
  • See Use of Force policy.

Air Support

Where air support is available, ground units should disengage active visual pursuit when the aircraft has the suspect vehicle in view and the suspect is no longer aware of ground presence — reducing speed and danger to the public.

After-Pursuit Apprehension

  • Officers approach a stopped suspect vehicle using high-risk vehicle stop tactics.
  • Excessive force after apprehension is prohibited.
  • Adrenaline elevates risk; supervisors monitor for inappropriate force during apprehension.

Documentation

  • Every pursuit (initiated, continued, terminated) generates a pursuit report.
  • Report includes: initiation rationale, route, duration, top speed, intervention used, outcome, injuries, property damage, BWC and dashcam identifiers.
  • Supervisor completes a review section.
  • Reports submitted before officer goes off duty.

Review

  • Every pursuit reviewed by chain of command within 30 days.
  • Pursuits involving injury, significant damage, or termination by supervisor receive enhanced review.
  • Pursuit data reported quarterly to command staff and annually to the public.

Training

  • Initial Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) at academy.
  • Annual EVOC refresher.
  • Pursuit-specific decision-making training annually.
  • TDD and PIT training and currency for officers authorized to perform.
  • Supervisor training in pursuit command at promotion.

References

  • IACP Model Policy on Vehicle Pursuitiacp.org
  • PERF Vehicular Pursuits Reportspoliceforum.org
  • Scott v. Harris550 U.S. 372 (2007)
  • Plumhoff v. Rickard572 U.S. 765 (2014)
  • State Vehicle Code[INSERT STATE]

Adapt this template

Before this template becomes your department's policy, review the following items and adjust accordingly. Anything else that does not match your operation should be updated as well.

  • DRAFT — Requires legal review and SME sign-off before publication or adoption.
  • Specify offenses authorizing pursuit consistent with state law and case law.
  • Set PIT speed thresholds per training.
  • Identify mutual-aid coordination and notification protocols.
  • Cross-reference Use of Force, Response to Resistance Reporting, Emergency Vehicle Operations, and Body-Worn Camera policies.

Adoption signature

Adopted by (Name, Rank)
Signature
Effective date
Next scheduled review

Before adoption checklist

  • ☐Replace [DEPARTMENT NAME] throughout the document.
  • ☐Complete every [BRACKETED] placeholder.
  • ☐Confirm the current edition of every cited standard.
  • ☐Check against your state statutes and state fire marshal rules.
  • ☐Route for chief review. Topics with significant exposure (use of force, medical scope) also go through qualified counsel.
  • ☐Confirm alignment with any mutual-aid agreements.
  • ☐Schedule a training plan for the new policy before effective date.
  • ☐Announce adoption in writing to all members. Archive the prior version.
  • ☐Set the next review date — annually at minimum.