15-10 Suspect Apprehension Pursuit

Question 1

What is the Rationale?

Answer 1

The Province of Ontario has regulated that, before initiating a suspect apprehension pursuit, a police officer SHALL determine whether the immediate need to apprehend or identify an individual in a fleeing motor vehicle or to identify the fleeing motor vehicle outweighs the risk to public safety that may result from the pursuit.
Public safety is the paramount consideration factor in any decision to initiate, continue or abandon a suspect apprehension pursuit. Public safety represents a factor which may change rapidly and SHALL be continually assessed. A suspect apprehension pursuit SHALL be the choice of last resort and SHALL be considered only when other alternatives are unavailable or unsatisfactory.

Question 2

Supervision

Answer 2

 Pursuit Supervisor attendance mandatory to monitor when a pursuit is initiated
 Pursuit Supervisor notification mandatory when a pursuit is initiated

Question 3

Procedure - Public Safety - (1) ______ is the paramount consideration factor in any decision to initiate, continue or abandon a pursuit.

Answer 3

Public safety

Question 4

Procedure - Public Safety - (2) Public safety represents a factor which may change rapidly and which SHALL be

Answer 4

continually assessed.

Question 5

Procedure - Public Safety - (3) A police officer does not breach the code of conduct when the officer decides _______ a pursuit because the officer has reason to believe that the risk to public safety that may result from the pursuit outweighs the risk to public safety that may result if an individual in the

Answer 5

not to initiate or chooses to abandon

fleeing motor vehicle is not immediately apprehended or if the fleeing motor vehicle or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle is not identified.

Question 6

Procedure - Public Safety - (4) A pursuit SHALL be the choice of _____ and SHALL be considered only when other alternatives are _______.

Answer 6

last resort

unavailable or unsatisfactory

Question 7

Procedure - Public Safety - (5) Before initiating a pursuit, a police officer SHALL determine whether in order to protect public safety, the immediate need to_________ or the need to ___________ outweighs the risk to public safety that may result from the pursuit.

Answer 7

apprehend or identify an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle

identify the motor vehicle

Question 8

Procedure - Public Safety - (6) During a pursuit, a police officer SHALL continually reassess the determination to pursue and SHALL abandon the pursuit when the______________ outweighs the risk to public safety that may result if an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle is not

Answer 8

risk to public safety that may result from the pursuit

immediately apprehended, or if the fleeing motor vehicle or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle is not identified.

Question 9

Criminal Offences - (1) A police officer may pursue or continue a pursuit where the police officer, prior to initiating a pursuit, has

Answer 9

REASONABLE GROUNDS to believe that a criminal offence has been committed or is about to be committed.

Question 10

Criminal Offences - (2) The criminal offence (flight) described in ss. 249.1 of the Criminal Code is not justification to

Answer 10

initiate a pursuit but is a charge available incidental to a pursuit that has been undertaken for another lawful reason.

Question 11

Criminal Offences - (3) The criminal offence of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle arising out of the pursuit itself is not sufficient grounds to

Answer 11

continue the pursuit.

Question 12

Non – Criminal Offences - (1) No pursuit SHALL be initiated or continued for a ________ if the identity of an individual in the motor vehicle is known.

Answer 12

non–criminal offence

Question 13

Non – Criminal Offences - (2) A pursuit for a non–criminal offence SHALL be

Answer 13

abandoned once the motor vehicle is identified or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle is identified.

Question 14

Responsibility for Safe Conduct -
The responsibility for the safe conduct of a pursuit rests with the

Answer 14

individual police officer, the Communications Operator – Communications Services, the pursuit supervisor and any other authorized person monitoring the pursuit.

Question 15

Responsibility for Safe Conduct - Members are reminded that the Service has installed Automated Vehicle Location System (AVLS) equipment in all marked vehicles that are equipped with a Mobile Workstation (MWS). This system was designed, purchased and installed to enhance officer safety. AVLS uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network to determine the _________. At designated intervals, the GPS data received by the AVLS equipment is transmitted to and capable of being viewed using the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.

Answer 15

location, speed and direction of a marked vehicle at a specific date and time

Question 16

Public Safety Factors -
Members SHALL continually assess the following factors when involved in or when monitoring a pursuit. These factors are not in order of priority and SHAL be given equal consideration

Answer 16

 nature and seriousness of the offence involving a suspect in the motor vehicle
 information on the occupants of the motor vehicle, if known, including whether they are armed, suspects in a
violent crime, or there is reason to believe they are about to commit a violent crime
 nature, condition and type of area (residential, industrial, playground, etc.)
 presence of pedestrians or other traffic
 time of day
 apparent age of the driver
 weather and road conditions
 manner in which the pursued motor vehicle is being operated
 presence in the pursued motor vehicle of individuals who are not suspects
 length of time and distance involved
 type of vehicles involved in the pursuit (motorcycle, car, truck)
 presence in the police vehicle of non–police passengers
 limits on the police officer’s ability to operate the police vehicle at the speeds reached during the pursuit
 availability of other means of apprehension

Question 17

Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Restrictions - (1) A police officer in an unmarked motor vehicle SHALL not engage in a pursuit unless a marked motor vehicle is not

Answer 17

readily available and the police officer believes that it is necessary to immediately apprehend an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle or to identify the fleeing motor vehicle or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle.

Question 18

Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Restrictions - (2) Motorcycle and all–terrain vehicle operators SHALL

Answer 18

not engage in a pursuit.

Question 19

Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Restrictions - (3) No more than ______________should be directly engaged in a pursuit unless authorized by the pursuit supervisor.

Answer 19

two (2) motor vehicles

Question 20

Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Restrictions - (4) Complete or partial roadblocks may only be used in

Answer 20

extreme circumstances and must be authorized by a road supervisory officer and/or the pursuit supervisor.

Question 21

Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Restrictions - (5) The following of a pursuit on a parallel route is prohibited unless

Answer 21

directed by the pursuit supervisor.

Question 22

Firearms Discharge -
Discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle is an ineffective method of disabling the vehicle. Discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle may present a

Answer 22

hazard to both the officer and to the public. Members are prohibited from discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle for the sole purpose of disabling the vehicle.

Question 23

Firearms Discharge - Members SHALL not discharge a firearm at the operator or occupants of a motor vehicle unless there poses an

Answer 23

immediate threat of death or grievous bodily harm to officers and or members of the public by a means other than the vehicle.

Question 24

Firearms Discharge - Members SHALL be cognizant that disabling the operator of the motor vehicle thereby disabling the control over the motor vehicle may also

Answer 24

present a hazard to both the officer and the public.

Question 25

Firearms Discharge - Except while in a motor vehicle, members SHALL not place themselves in the path of an occupied motor vehicle with the intention of

Answer 25

preventing its escape. Additionally, members should not attempt to disable an occupied vehicle by reaching into it.

Question 26

Firearms Discharge - Pursuant to Procedure 13–03 and 13–05, any apparent breach of this Procedure will be carefully considered on its merits having regard to all the

Answer 26

circumstances before discipline is commenced.

Question 27

Alternative to Pursuit -
Prior to a pursuit, police officers SHALL consider the alternatives described in the Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Training Manual developed by the Ontario Police College. These alternatives include

Answer 27

(1) strategic following
(2) follow–up investigation
(3) the Tandem Stop
(4) use of tire deflation devices, when available
(5) the use of a helicopter, when available
(6) strategic use of rear, side and combination methods for stopping vehicles

Question 28

Methods of Terminating a Pursuit -
During a pursuit, police officers and pursuit supervisors SHALL consider methods of terminating a pursuit as described in the Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Training Manual developed by the Ontario Police College. These methods include

Answer 28

(1) strategic pursuing
(2) abandoning
(3) use of tire deflation devices, when available
(4) rolling block
(5) stationary road block
(6) pinning
(7) intentional contact

Question 29

Methods of Terminating a Pursuit - Police officers may only intentionally cause a marked or unmarked motor vehicle to come into physical contact with a fleeing motor vehicle for the purposes of stopping it,__________________. In considering this action, police officers SHALL assess the____________. It must be remembered that impacts at relatively low speeds can cause the driver and passenger-side airbags to deploy and potentially injure the occupants of the marked or unmarked motor vehicle. This manoeuvre should only be considered in areas of____________

Answer 29

where the police officer believes on reasonable grounds that to do so is necessary to immediately protect against the loss of life or serious bodily harm

impact of the action on the safety of other members of the public and other police officers

low vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and executed at very low speeds.

Question 30

Methods of Terminating a Pursuit - Police officers may cause a marked or unmarked motor vehicle to come into physical contact with the fleeing motor vehicle for the purposes of pinning the fleeing motor vehicle, if the fleeing motor vehicle has lost control or collided with an object and come to a stop and the driver of the fleeing motor vehicle continues to try to use it to flee. Police officers involved in a pursuit with the assistance of additional police officers in marked or unmarked motor vehicles may attempt to

Answer 30

safely position their marked or unmarked motor vehicles in such a manner as to prevent the movement, either forwards or backwards, of the fleeing motor vehicle.

Question 31

Methods of Terminating a Pursuit - As a termination method, strategic pursuing is the primary driving mode during an active pursuit. The intent of this technique is that by significantly increasing the distance between the marked or unmarked motor vehicle and the fleeing motor vehicle, the fleeing driver will seize the opportunity to stop and abandon the fleeing motor vehicle. When using this technique police officers SHALL

Answer 31

 activate all emergency equipment
 follow the fleeing motor vehicle from a significantly increased distance.

Question 32

Methods of Terminating a Pursuit - STRATEGIC PURSUING - By doing so, the police officers’ “target fixation” will be reduced, allowing for better control of sensory and physical multi-tasking functions and offer the driver an opportunity to abandon the fleeing motor vehicle and flee on foot. Strategic pursuing may be used until

Answer 32

 the driver stops voluntarily
 another termination method is employed, or
 the pursuit is abandoned.
 Strategic pursuing is the primary driving mode during a pursuit and fully-activated emergency equipment must be deployed. Strategic pursuing is not to be utilized once a pursuit has been abandoned.

Question 33

Methods of Terminating a Pursuit - When the fleeing motor vehicle is a large truck, bus, motorcycle, or off-road vehicle, use only the following methods to terminate a pursuit

Answer 33

 strategically pursue the fleeing motor vehicle with emergency equipment activated until the fleeing motor vehicle stops, or
 abandon the pursuit.

Question 34

Reporting of Pursuits -
Following every pursuit, the police officer initiating the pursuit SHALL complete a ____ prior to the completion of their tour of duty. In addition, where______, the police officer SHALL complete the applicable eReport prior to the completion of their tour of duty.

Answer 34

TPS 348

no suspect has been apprehended

Question 35

Reporting of Pursuits - For the purposes of pursuit reporting under Part “B” of the TPS 348, the police officer SHALL indicate in the required section

Answer 35

 the specific reason for stopping the motor vehicle and justification for initiating the pursuit
 the justification for continuing the pursuit
 the risk to public safety throughout the pursuit
 the names and employee numbers of the pursuit supervisor and the available road supervisor
 the summary of the report SHALL describe, in narrative format, a brief, chronological, synopsis of the events pertaining to the pursuit, including the point where the fleeing motor vehicle and/or individuals in the fleeing motor vehicle were identified. Personal identifiers, e.g. names of police officers, vehicle licence plate numbers etc., should not be recorded in this section of the report

Question 36

Pursuits Involving More Than One (1) Police Service -
When there is more than one (1) police service involved in the pursuit, the responsible supervisor is the supervisor in the_____________. Where a pursuit has covered more than one (1) police service jurisdiction, the police service in the jurisdiction where the pursuit began SHALL

Answer 36

jurisdiction where the pursuit is initiated until the pursuit is handed over to the other police service

ensure co–ordination of a joint Fail to Stop Report.

Question 37

Police Officer - When a driver of a fleeing motor vehicle refuses to stop and circumstances dictate that a pursuit will not be initiated SHALL

Answer 37

 advise Communications Operator – Communications Services (Communications Operator)
 prior to the completion of the tour of duty, complete
 the applicable sections of a TPS 348
 a TPS 227, if applicable
 the applicable eReports

Question 38

Police Officer - When a driver of a fleeing motor vehicle refuses to stop and a pursuit is initiated SHALL

Answer 38

 immediately advise the Communications Operator of the driver’s refusal
 assess the public safety factors and continuously update the Communications Operator with
 the description of the fleeing motor vehicle, speed, location, and direction of travel
 information on the nature and seriousness of the offence
 the presence of pedestrians or other traffic
 road and weather conditions
 the manner in which the fleeing motor vehicle is being operated
 any other public safety factors
 activate the emergency lights and siren, if equipped
 activate the In–Car Camera System (ICCS), if equipped
 For the protection of the public and members, police officers SHALL not adjust the ICCS while actively engaged in apprehending or pursuing a fleeing motor vehicle.
 comply with any directions given by the pursuit supervisor
 A police officer may be held liable for any Criminal Code or Highway Traffic Act offence committed in relation to the pursuit.
 remain on the assigned channel, unless otherwise instructed by the Communications Operator
 advise the pursuit supervisor of any methods to be used to terminate the pursuit, when practicable

Question 39

Police Officer - When initiating a pursuit while operating an unmarked motor vehicle SHALL

Answer 39

 request a marked motor vehicle attend and engage in the pursuit
 immediately abandon the pursuit when a marked motor vehicle arrives and becomes engaged in the pursuit

Question 40

Police Officer - When engaged in a pursuit where the risk to public safety outweighs the need to apprehend an individual in a fleeing motor vehicle or the need to identify the fleeing motor vehicle or the need to identify an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle or when ordered by a pursuit supervisor SHALL

Answer 40

 immediately abandon the pursuit
 bring the marked or unmarked motor vehicle to a safe stop
 turn off emergency equipment, if equipped
 advise the Communications Operator that the pursuit has been abandoned
 provide the last known direction of the fleeing motor vehicle, and, if not already done, the fleeing motor vehicle description
 advise the Communications Operator of the current location and odometer reading of the vehicle
 prior to the completion of the tour of duty, complete
 a TPS 348
 a TPS 227, if applicable
 the applicable eReports if the driver of the fleeing motor vehicle is not arrested

Question 41

Police Officer - When a pursuit has resulted in a collision SHALL comply with

Answer 41

Procedures 07–01 NIP and 07–05.

Question 42

Communications Operator – Communication Services - When advised of a pursuit, in addition to complying with unit–specific policies, SHALL

Answer 42

 notify an Operational Supervisor – Communications Services
 advise other patrol units of the pursuit
 advise the appropriate supervisory officers when a pursuit is initiated and abandoned
 provide the pursuing police officers and appropriate supervisory officers with any information on dangerous circumstances or conditions that are known
 control radio communications during the pursuit
 inform adjoining jurisdictions that a pursuit is in progress in order to ensure maximum co-ordination and co-operation, if applicable

Question 43

Pursuit Supervisor - When advised of a pursuit, in addition to complying with unit–specific policies, SHALL

Answer 43

 assume control of the pursuit
 order additional police vehicles to assist, if required
 order unnecessary police officers to resume regular patrol, if required
 monitor the progress of the pursuit to ensure compliance with this Procedure and O. Reg. 266/10
 order and co-ordinate termination methods where time and circumstances permit
 authorize the use of approved methods of terminating the pursuit
 order the pursuit abandoned when it is determined that the risk to public safety that may result from the pursuit outweighs the need to apprehend an individual in a fleeing motor vehicle or the need to identify the fleeing motor vehicle or the need to identify an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle

Question 44

Road Supervisory Officer - When advised of a pursuit SHALL

Answer 44

 monitor the communication
 advise the Communications Operator that he/she is monitoring
 order the pursuit abandoned, when appropriate and advise the pursuit supervisor accordingly
 assume the role of pursuit supervisor in the absence of an Operations Supervisor – Communications Services

Question 45

Road Supervisory Officer - At the conclusion of a pursuit SHALL

Answer 45

 ensure
 a TPS 348
 a TPS 227, if applicable
 the applicable eReports are completed prior to the completion of the tour of duty
 review the TPS 348 and include comments in the appropriate section prior to the completion of the tour of duty

Question 46

Road Supervisory Officer - Upon receipt of a TPS 348 indicating that a pursuit was not initiated SHALL

Answer 46

review the report and include comments in the appropriate section prior to the completion of the tour of duty.

Question 47

Definitions - Abandon Pursuit

Answer 47

means the discontinuation of a pursuit when police officers are no longer pursuing a fleeing motor vehicle for the purpose of stopping or identifying the fleeing motor vehicle or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle.
[Source: Police Services Act, O.Reg. 266/10, ss.1(2)]

Question 48

Definitions - Marked Vehicle

Answer 48

means a Service vehicle used primarily by uniformed officers that:
- is clearly marked with Toronto Police Service decals along with the word “police” and is equipped with “overhead” emergency lighting visible from 360 degrees and has a forward-facing electronic siren
- meets the minimum requirements as set out in the Highway Traffic Act for an emergency vehicle, as well as Ontario Regulation 926 and Policing Standards Manual (Adequacy Standards) AI–008 for general patrol vehicles.

Question 49

Definitions - Pursuit Supervisor

Answer 49

means a communications supervisor or, if unavailable, a road supervisory officer

Question 50

Definitions - Suspect Apprehension Pursuit (Pursuit)

Answer 50

occurs when a police officer attempts to direct the driver of a motor vehicle to stop, the driver refuses to obey the police officer, and the police officer pursues in a motor vehicle for the purpose of stopping the fleeing motor vehicle, or identifying the fleeing motor vehicle, or an individual in the fleeing motor vehicle.
[Source: Police Services Act, O.Reg. 266/10, ss.1(1)]

Question 51

Definitions - Unmarked Police Vehicle

Answer 51

in reference to pursuits, means all vehicles, other than a marked police vehicle, that are owned or operated by the Service. This includes vehicles commonly known as “stealth” vehicles and “clean top” vehicles.