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EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PURSUIT

AGENCY MEMBERS
Only operate Agency vehicles in an emergency response mode when both an audible signal and emergency lights are activated. Exercise due care and caution, and shall not operate in excess of a speed reasonable and prudent for existing conditions.

IN DETERMINING DUE CARE AND CAUTION THE FOLLOWING FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED: EMERGENCY RESPONSE FACTORS
SAFETY OF CITIZENS! Severity of the call or incident. Degree of danger to another member or the public. Potential for property damage. Proximity to the scene. Proximity of other law enforcement units. Locale, road, traffic, and weather conditions. Type of vehicle being used. Shall monitor and evaluate all emergency responses. Shall have the authority to upgrade or downgrade responses as necessary. Control the number of vehicles responding to incidents.

SUPERVISORS

MOTOR VEHICLE PURSUIT PURSUIT SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AN OPTION WHEN: DECISION CRITERIA
All other means of apprehension have been exhausted. The severity of the incident justifies the risk. When the person being pursued poses an immediate threat to others or himself / herself. Members shall exercise due care and caution, and shall not operate in excess of a speed reasonable and prudent for existing conditions. Shall utilize emergency equipment that should be sufficient to safely operate in a pursuit situation. The pursuit should not exceed the police vehicles capabilities.

DUE CARE AND CAUTION AGENCY VEHICLES

PURSUING MEMBERS SHALL IMMEDIATELY DO THE FOLLOWING: PROCEDURES


Advise communications of: 1. Initiation of a pursuit.

Rev. 06/04

1-400

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Reason for pursuit. Location and direction of travel. Speed involved. License number, description of the pursued vehicle. Number and description of occupants in the pursued vehicle(s).

PURSUING MEMBERS SHALL ABANDON PURSUIT WHEN: ASSISTING MEMBERS SUPERVISORS


Ordered to do so by a supervisor. The pursuing member believes it is no longer safe to continue the pursuit. The pursuit is for traffic violations or other minor offenses and the pursued vehicle fails to stop within a reasonable distance. The violator can be identified and more safely apprehended at a later time. The vehicle is being pursued by another agency and our assistance is no longer needed or requested. Shall assume a position of support behind the initial pursuing agency vehicle. Shall use caution and follow at a safe and effective distance. Shall assist the pursuing member with communications when practical. Shall notify the supervisor of his/her participation in the pursuit. Shall monitor and evaluate the pursuit for adherence to policy/procedures. SHALL MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE NUMBER OF AGENCY VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE PURSUIT. Ensure notification of support units (e.g. MSP Aviation, K-9, etc.) when necessary. Employ alternative strategies when appropriate. Monitoring supervisor shall make the Division Commander aware of any critical or extraordinary pursuit situation. If the pursuit results in apprehension, the member shall arrest and return the suspect to Harford County. If a Law Enforcement Officer of the other jurisdiction request the suspect to be processed locally, the member shall comply.

FRESH PURSUIT INTO ADJOINING MARYLAND JURISDICTION (INTRA-STATE) FRESH PURSUIT ACROSS STATE LINES (INTER-STATE) Rev. 06/04

Deputies may pursue a suspect across state boundaries when the member has reasonable grounds to believe that a felony has been committed ( reference:Maryland Criminal Procedure Article 2-301 thru 2-309). Misdemeanor pursuits across state lines shall require approval by the Shift Supervisor.

2-400

PENNSYLVANIA

The supervisor shall immediately notify the affected law enforcement agency and keep that agency informed of the pursuit. If the pursuit results in apprehension in Pennsylvania, the member shall take the arrestee to the court official (District Justice) in the county where the suspect was arrested. (Reference Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Annotated, Title 42, Section 89-21). If the pursuit results in apprehension in Delaware, the member shall take the arrestee to the Justice of the Peace in the county where the suspect was arrested. If the arrest is determined to be lawful, the arrestee will be processed in Delaware pending extradition to Maryland. (Reference Delaware Code of 1994, as amended, Title 11, Sub-Sections 1932 and 1933). The primary pursuing member shall complete the vehicle pursuit report (SO-014) and supplement (SO-002). After review of the report by the Division Commander, the pursuit report (SO-014) and any supplements (SO-002) shall be submitted to Records. The pursuit report review form (SO-014a) shall be forwarded, by the Division Commander, to the Pursuit Review Committee Chairman. The pursuit report review form (SO-014a) or a copy of, shall not be attached to the pursuit form (SO-014 is a police report/SO-014a is an administrative form). All assisting members shall complete report supplements (SO-002). Reporting procedures also apply when members become involved in other agencys pursuits. Shall be completed within 24 hours of the incident. The committee shall be comprised as follows: (1) Captain (Chair) (2) Law Enforcement Supervisors (2) Driving Instructors When the Division Commander is made aware of a pursuit situation deemed to be critical or extraordinary, he/she shall forward the pursuit report to the Bureau Commander, who shall in turn forward the report to the Chief Deputy. The Chief Deputy shall then consult with the Sheriff for a disposition determination. The Sheriff and Chief Deputy shall have the option to either forward the report to the Internal Affairs Unit or the Pursuit Review Committee for immediate review. Supervisory review and approval shall be completed within three (3) working days of the incident. Final supervisory disposition shall be with the Division Commander. Upon final supervisory disposition the pursuit report review form (SO-014b) shall be submitted to the Pursuit Review

DELAWARE

PURSUIT REPORTS

PURSUIT REVIEW COMMITTEE

REVIEW PROCESS

Rev. 06/04

3-400

Committee Chairman.


Services

The Pursuit Review Committee shall determine the pursuit to be either: 1. Necessary and appropriate. 2. Inconsistent with agency policy. Should the Pursuit Review Committee find the pursuit inconsistent with agency policy, the report shall be submitted to a Command Staff Review Committee comprised of the Chief Deputy (Chair), the Police Bureau Commander, the Investigative Services Bureau Commander and the Services and Support Bureau Commander.

Sheriff.

After review of the report the Command Staff Review Committee may concur with the findings of the Pursuit Review Committee and issue a recommendation for disciplinary or remedial action or both to the Should the Command Staff Review Committee find the pursuit necessary and appropriate, it shall return the report with explanation, to the Pursuit Review Committee. The Pursuit Review Committee shall return copies of the findings to the Division Commander.

Rev. 06/04

4-400

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