GO 301.03 Vehicle Pursuits

Question 1

In order to engage in a vehicle pursuit, a member must actually and reasonably believe..

Answer 1

-the fleeing suspect has committed or attempted to commit a crime of violence or poses an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to another person
-the pursuit is immediately necessary to protect another person (other than the fleeing suspect) from the threat of serious bodily injury or death AND not likely to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person
-AND all other options have been exhausted or do not reasonable lend themselves to the circumstances

Question 2

Monitoring officials, during a vehicle pursuit, shall..

Answer 2

continually evaluate and assess the actual conditions of the pursuit in deciding whether to continue

Question 3

What are some circumstances that may be taken into consideration in a grand jury, criminal, delinquency, or civil proceeding for a vehicle pursuit?

Answer 3

-Whether the identity of the suspect was known
-Whether the suspect could have been apprehended at a later time
-likelihood of a person (including fleeing vehicle’s occupants) of being endangered by the pursuit (type of area, time of day, amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic, speed of pursuit, etc)
-Availability of other means to apprehend or track the fleeing suspect (i.e. helicopters)
-Circumstances that may have arisen during the pursuit that rendered the pursuit futile (i.e. lost sight of vehicle)or would have prolonged the pursuit for an unreasonable time or distance.
-Whether the member’s vehicle sustained damage or mechanical failure rendering it unsafe
-whether the member was directed to terminate the pursuit
-the member’s training and experience
-whether anyone in the fleeing vehicle appeared to be possess a dangerous weapon and was afforded an opportunity to comply with an order to surrender the weapon(s)
-whether the member engaged in de-escalation measures
-whether conduct by the member PRIOR to the pursuit unreasonably increased the risk of a confrontation resulting in the pursuit
-whether the member made all reasonable efforts to prevent harm, including abandoning efforts to apprehend the suspect

Question 4

T or F: Member can ram during a pursuit

Answer 4

False. Ramming is prohibited

Question 5

Any pursuit involving ramming will be investigated as…

Answer 5

a deadly use of force by IAD

Question 6

Any vehicle pursuit involving roadblocks will be investigated as…

Answer 6

serious use of force by IAD

Question 7

T or F: A roadblock may be used in cases involving imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury when no other options are feasible

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Boxing-in, caravanning, use of a tire deflation device and/or paralleling will be investigated as

Answer 8

serious uses of force by IAD.

Question 9

T or F: members may participate in vehicle pursuits initiated by other law enforcement agencies operating within DC

Answer 9

False

Question 10

T or F: members may participate in vehicle pursuits initiated by officers of outside jurisdictions that enter or terminates in DC

Answer 10

False

Question 11

T or F: If a vehicle pursuit is not authorized, members may still pursue on foot or mountain bike

Answer 11

True

Question 12

If a member is engaged in a vehicle pursuit, they must…

Answer 12

advise the dispatcher where the pursuit was initiated and articulate the reason for the pursuit

Question 13

A monitoring official for a vehicle pursuit must be of what rank (or above)?

Answer 13

Lieutenant

Question 14

How many units are authorized to be in a vehicle pursuit?

Answer 14

3-primary, secondary and supervisor

Question 15

Who can authorize additional units in a vehicle pursuit?

Answer 15

The Watch Commander

Question 16

members engaged in a vehicle pursuit shall operate their department vehicles as

Answer 16

emergency vehicles

Question 17

During a vehicle pursuit, members are required to…

Answer 17

-activate their emergency equipment and turn on their headlights, ensure seatbelts are fastened
-open both front windows
only travel at a speed that is justifiable based on the specific circumstances and conditions
-maintain a safe distance between their vehicle and fleeing vehicle
-comply with traffic regulations for emergency vehicles (stop before entering intersections with red signals or stop signs, slow to max speed limit in an intersection)

Question 18

If an unmarked unit is involved in a pursuit, once a marked unit joins, shall…

Answer 18

discontinue their participation, continue to monitor the pursuit, and proceed to the termination point if needed.

Question 18

The primary unit in a pursuit shall use which siren position?

Answer 18

Wail

Question 18

The secondary unit in a pursuit shall use which siren position?

Answer 18

Yelp

Question 19

Who can approve or disapprove pursuits that enter into another jurisdiction?

Answer 19

The watch commander (or monitoring official)

Question 20

If a traffic crash occurs during a vehicle pursuit, who will handle the report?

Answer 20

The secondary unit shall disengage and provide assistance and handle any reports.

Question 21

T or F: The Watch Commander or monitoring official shall respond to all scenes where injury and property damage occur as a result of a vehicle prusuit

Answer 21

True

Question 22

Who has primary responsibility for investigating vehicle pursuits involving a fatality within DC?

Answer 22

Major Crash and IAD

Question 23

Who has primary responsibility for investigating pursuits involving a fatality that occur outside of DC?

Answer 23

The local law enforcement agency and IAD

Question 24

What are some conditions that result in termination of a pursuit?

Answer 24

-Unnecessary property damage or injury to persons
-Close proximity to schools and hospitals or other locations with high pedestrian or vehicular activity
-distance between pursuing member and fleeing vehicle is too great
-suspect is identified so that a warrant can be obtained (no immediate threat of death or serious injury if not immediately apprehended)
-Time of day/location has heavy vehicle or pedestrian traffic
-circumstances of pursuit have changed that results in violation of the pursuit order

Question 25

Who secures the termination point of a vehicle pursuit?

Answer 25

Watch Commander or monitoring official

Question 26

In a vehicle pursuit that ends in a jurisdiction outside of DC and the suspect is apprehended, the pursuing member shall

Answer 26

contact the USAO to begin the extradition process. Once authorization has been granted, the member shall provide the AUSAO with an arrest affidavit. The USAO will handle all further matters concerning the return of the suspect.

Question 27

Which form shall be completed for the preliminary investigation into a pursuit?

Answer 27

PD845 (Vehicle Pursuit Report)

Question 28

When must the PD845 be completed and to whom will it be submitted?

Answer 28

By the end of the shift, to the commanding officer, the COP, IAB, and administrative captain

Question 29

Members shall not be compelled to make a statement in cases of deadly force, serious use of force or any potential criminal conduct in a vehicle pursuit until…

Answer 29

-USAO has issued a written declination
-The watch commander received approval from the on-call IAD official for a reverse Garrity warning

Question 30

What rank (or above) shall be responsible for the chain of command investigation?

Answer 30

Captain or above

Question 31

What are the two possible findings for a vehicle pursuit?

Answer 31

-Within MPD policy
-Violated MPD policy

Question 32

What is the definition of a vehicle pursuit?

Answer 32

Operation of a pursuit vehicle in a manner that is not consistent with the posted speed limit or other applicable traffic regulations in an attempt to apprehend a suspect who is eluding apprehension while operating a motor vehicle.