NCJ Number
58105
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
DECISION FACTORS IN EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATION, ASSOCIATED GUIDELINES AND CONTROLS, AND THE USE OF VEHICULAR FORCE ARE ADDRESSED AS THEY CONCERN POLICE OFFICER RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE.
Abstract
BASIC OBJECTIVES OF EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATIONS ARE TO PERMIT SWIFT RESPONSE TO CRITICALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS OR TO APPREHEND KNOWN OR SUSPECTED VIOLATORS WHO ARE OPERATING A VEHICLE. APPROPRIATELY BALANCING INHERENT DANGERS OF EMERGENCY DRIVING WITH THE ADVANTAGE TO BE GAINED BY SUCH ACTION IS THE FUNDAMENTAL POINT TO BE EVALUATED BY POLICE OFFICERS IN DECIDING HOW TO OPERATE THEIR VEHICLE UNDER EMERGENCY CONDITIONS. IN DETERMINING THE NEED FOR ARRIVING PROMPTLY AT THE SCENE OF A CRIME, POLICE OFFICERS MUST CONSIDER THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE AND THE PROBABILITY THAT TIMELY ARRIVAL WILL RESULT IN SUSPECT APPREHENSION. IF OTHER UNITS HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED AT THE SCENE, OR IF IT IS KNOWN THAT PERPETRATORS ARE NO LONGER AT THE CRIME SCENE, AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE MAY NOT BE NECESSARY. THE DECISION TO INITIATE A VEHICULAR PURSUIT OF A SUSPECTED VIOLATOR MUST BE BASED ON THE SAME STANDARDS THAT ARE APPLIED IN OTHER ARREST AND DETENTION SITUATIONS. POLICE OFFICERS NOT ONLY HAVE THE RIGHT BUT ALSO AN OBLIGATION TO USE A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PROTECT PERSONS AGAINST DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY AND TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. GUIDELINES AND CONTROLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES CONCERN PARKING, RIGHT-OF-WAY, SPEED LIMITS, MOVEMENTS, STOPPING ELEMENTS, EMERGENCY BRAKING AND BRAKE FADE, UNAVOIDABLE COLLISIONS, BRAKING DISTANCE, AND ROADWAY ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS. (DEP)