THIS MANUAL FOR POLICE PROVIDES THE GROUNDWORK FOR WRITTEN DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES GOVERNING PURSUIT AND ALSO SERVES AS A MANUAL FOR PATROL OFFICERS WHO MAY ENGAGE IN PURSUIT. WHEN CONDUCTING A PURSUIT, OFFICERS MUST CONSTANTLY WEIGH THE HAZARDS OF THE CHASE AGAINST THE HAZARDS OF NOT GIVING CHASE. MOTORCYCLES ARE NOT SAFE PURSUIT VEHICLES AND PURSUITS ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN ADVERSE WEATHER. INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PURSUIT VEHICLE ARE OUTLINED, AND THE TYPES OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT BEST SUITED FOR PURSUIT ARE DESCRIBED. CRASH AVOIDANCE, CORNERING, USE OF THE LOWER GEAR, TURNS, SKID CONTROL, HANDLING CARS AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND BLOWOUTS AT HIGH SPEEDS ARE SOME OF THE DRIVING TECHNIQUES. SINCE ANY CRASH MAY CAUSE A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT, THE PURSUIT REPORT AND DEPARTMENTAL GUIDELINES ARE IMPORTANT POLICE TOOLS. ADVICE IS GIVEN FOR FILLING OUT THE REPORT, JUSTIFYING THE PURSUIT, AND MAKING COURT APPEARANCES. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A TYPICAL SYLLABUS FOR AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATIONS COURSE AND STANDARD PURSUIT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. THE BOOK IS ILLUSTRATED WITH CHARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS AND CONTAINS AN INDEX AND REFERENCES. (GLR)
POLICE PURSUIT DRIVING HANDBOOK
NCJ Number
60255
Date Published
1979
Length
95 pages
Annotation
THE SELECTION AND TRAINING OF PURSUIT DRIVERS, PREPARING THE VEHICLE, DRIVING TECHNIQUES, PURSUIT GUIDELINES, THE PREPARATION OF THE PURSUIT REPORT, AND THE LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS OF PURSUIT ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract