NCJ Number
164742
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (1996) Pages: 79-93
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Police and sheriffs' departments in Alabama were studied with respect to their emergency response and pursuit driving policies.
Abstract
Data were collected by means of an 18-item questionnaire that focused on the number of sworn officers, the existence of emergency response and pursuit driving policies, the perceived degree of policy restrictiveness on officer discretion, and training in forcible stop techniques. The questionnaires were mailed to the 322 police chiefs and 67 sheriffs in November 1994. Follow-up mailings took place in January and February 1995. Responses came from 188 agencies. Results revealed that 80 percent currently had an emergency response policy, and 91 percent had a pursuit policy. The policies all indicated as their goal the maximum protection of lives and property for all citizens. The majority of agencies classified their policies as being somewhat restrictive. Fewer than half the agencies had policies allowing the use of forcible stop techniques in pursuit situations. The amount of training in forcible stops was not related to agency size. Tables and 15 references