NCJ Number
188704
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2001 Pages: 54-57
Date Published
April 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article considers measures to ensure officer safety when responding to calls.
Abstract
The article claims that driving to the scene of a crime, accident, or other emergency is as much of a tactical response as an approach on foot. It advises that responding officers: (1) consider who else might be on the road and possible delays they might cause; (2) be extra vigilant regarding the possible influences of weather conditions, time of day, and available outside lighting; (3) learn to minimize or block out distractions; (4) consider how many squad members put colleagues at risk by their overly aggressive patrol tactics; (5) make the last 2 minutes count, observe the scene carefully even before getting out of your vehicle; and (6) weigh the risks of a high-speed response as soon as a call is received or a decision is made to go to the scene. The article suggests that racing to get to a burglary alarm or a 911 hang-up puts a responding officer at an accident or collision risk that doesn't match the probable seriousness of the call.