NCJ Number
73583
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This police training article on stopping vehicles known or suspected to be occupied by felons provides information on making identifications, choosing stop sites, and positioning police cars during stops.
Abstract
Police can identify vehicles suspected of being operated by felons during routine patrol ('cold' conditions) or when suspects attempt to escape a crime scene by car ('hot' conditions). For cold conditions, police departments are advised to routinely provide officers with detailed information about wanted persons and stolen property. Officers are instructed to routinely check vehicles and their occupants and be alert for anything suspicious. Under hot conditions, officers at the crime scene should broadcast all available information about an escaping suspect. When the suspected vehicle is sighted, the officer should keep careful communication with dispatchers. Since felon stops are so dangerous, they should not be attempted by an officer. The dispatcher should be kept informed of the officer's location as he pursues the suspect, and picks a site for the stop and arrest. Stopping sites should be away from areas likely to collect crowds, to congest or endanger traffic, or to provide the suspect with an escape route. The site should provide the officer with an unobstructed field of vision. Examples of good stopping sites include off-road parking lots, areas next to barriers, and wide road shoulders in flat areas. The two most important considerations in positioning a police car for a stop are providing maximum visibility and protection for police. Since the engine block and tires provide the greatest protection, police cars should not parallel suspects. Officers are advised to stop 10 to 15 feet behind the suspect and angle their cars 30 degrees to the left or right of the line of the stopped suspect car. For night stops, officers should select well lighted locations and use their own lights to illuminate the interior of the other vehicle. Questions and answers, illustrations, and a reference are included.