Vehicle Pursuit Policy Customization Questionnaire Topic ...Vehicle Code § 17001 (liable for death or injury…caused by a negligent or wrongful act or omission) 5 6. Vehicle Pursuit

Vehicle Pursuit Policy

Customization Questionnaire

Topic/Guideline Question Choice # Choice text

Questions 1-2 explore

when officers are liable

for their actions.

If an officer initiates a pursuit without

emergency equipment and another

motorist’s vehicle is damaged, what does

your agency’s policy say about exemption

from civil liability?

1 The exemptions provided by Vehicle Code do not

apply… [if]… using vehicles without emergency

equipment

2 [Without lights/siren in a pursuit]…officers are no

longer immune under Vehicle Code for civil liability

resulting from a collision during that period

3 The safety of all persons and the exemption… from

liability are considerations that demand responsible

and controlled 'Code 3' responses at all times

4 Officers are exempt from liability during a pursuit

5 Our agency has no specific policy on liability beyond

Vehicle Code

6

7

If an officer acts contrary to policy or

supervisor commands, what does your

policy say about exemption from

liability?

1 [An officer is not exempt] from either civil or criminal

liability for unreasonable or arbitrary acts resulting in

harm or injury to others

2 [An officer is exempt from liability] only when the

vehicle is operated with due regard for the safety of

all persons using the highway

3 Officers are exempt from all liability during a pursuit


Vehicle Code § 17001 (liable for death or

injury…caused by a negligent or wrongful act or

omission)

5

6




when it is appropriate to

initiate a pursuit.

According to your agency's policy,

pursuits for misdemeanor offenses:

1 Are allowed

2 Are prohibited

3 Are discouraged

4 Are not specified in policy

5

According to your agency's policy: 1 A pursuit may be initiated when there is a danger to

the public

2 Pursuits are prohibited on a freeway or divided

highway open to traffic

3 There is no specific policy regarding driving that is

reckless or poses danger

4

According to your agency policy on

inter-jurisdictional pursuits:

1 A notification is not a request to assist/join a pursuit

2 Officers may join or take over a pursuit only when

there is a specific/clearly made request

3 Our policy has no specifics on inter-jurisdictional

notifications or requests to join or assume a pursuit

4

When a driver exhibits a failure to yield

to a traffic stop, your policy:

1 Allows pursuits for failure to yield

2 Allows pursuits for failure to yield when reasonable

suspicion of another crime or threat to safety

3 Prohibits pursuits for failure to yield without another

crime involved

4 Only defines failure to yield within the definition of

pursuit; no other mention

5 Makes no mention of failure to yield

6



Questions 7-10 relate to

the types of units and

equipment allowed in a

pursuit.

How many units are permitted to

participate in a vehicle pursuit (assuming

more could be authorized if needed)?

1 2 units

2 2 units plus supervisor

3 3 units


5 4 units


7 No limit is specified in the policy

8

9

According to your agency’s policy,

which types of units are allowed to remain

in an ongoing pursuit?

1 Marked vehicles

2 Unmarked vehicles

3 Motorcycles

4 K9 units

5 Air Support

6 No restrictions on types of units

7

What is your agency’s policy on air

support during a vehicle pursuit?

1 Make maximum use as soon as possible

2 Request, when available, as soon as possible

3 Our policy has nothing specific related to when or

whether to request air support

4 There is no air support for our agency; therefore, no

policy

5

6



According to your agency’s policy, what

equipment should pursuing units

have?

2 Working lights and siren

3 Code 3 equipment

4 Our policy does not specify requirements for

pursuing units

5

6




paralleling.

What is your agency’s policy on

paralleling during a vehicle pursuit?

1 Paralleling is allowed

2 Paralleling is not allowed

3 Paralleling is only allowed when authorized (e.g., for

traffic control, advance warning, or clearing

intersections)

4 Paralleling is not allowed unless authorized for

interventions

5 There is no specific policy on paralleling

6

7

What is your agency’s policy on trailing

during a vehicle pursuit?

1 Trailing is allowed

2 Trailing is not allowed

3 Trailing is allowed with supervisor permission,

keeping a distance to indicate absence of

participation in the pursuit

4 Trailing is discouraged unless authorized by a

supervisor

5 There is no specific policy on trailing

6

7

What is your agency’s policy on passing

the Primary?

1 Passing is allowed

2 Passing is not allowed unless the Primary can no

longer continue

3 Passing is not allowed, unless permission received

from the unit to be passed

4 Avoid passing unless instructed/requested

5 There is no specific policy on passing

6

7




responsibility.

Based on your agency’s policy, what is

the main responsibility for the Primary


1 Focus on fleeing vehicle with the goal of safe

apprehension

2


the main responsibility for the Secondary


1 Broadcast progress of the pursuit

2


the main responsibility for the Supervisor


1 Monitor, direct, and coordinate actions related to a

pursuit

2


the main responsibility for the Dispatcher


1 Coordinate communications and provide updated

information

2

According to your agency policy, who

may request additional units for the

pursuit?

1 The Primary

2 A supervisor

3 Any officer involved in the pursuit

4 Not specified in our policy

5

6

Under what circumstances does your

policy allow a secondary unit to take over

for the primary unit?

1 If directed or authorized to do so

2 If the primary unit is unable to continue

3 If the primary unit contains only one officer and a

transfer to a two-officer unit is required

4 We have no specific policy on the conditions for a

secondary unit taking over the primary role

5

6




pursuit driving tactics and

losing sight of the vehicle.


pursuing wrong way drivers?

1 May pursue a vehicle driving the wrong way in order

to protect other motorists/the public

2 Do not pursue a vehicle driving left of center (wrong

way); consider alternative actions

3 As a general rule, should not pursue a vehicle driving

left of center (wrong way)

4 A pursuit must be terminated when a suspect enters

a one-way street or highway the wrong way

5 Pursuit of a wrong-way driver is not specified in our

policy

6

7

Based on your agency’s policy, what

are the alternative actions you can take in

the case of a wrong way driver?

1 Call in air support

2 Establish an intervention plan to stop the suspect

vehicle

3 Parallel on the right side to maintain visual contact

4 Notify CHP immediately

5 Notify CHP if driver is entering their jurisdiction

6 Request other units to cover possible exits

7 None of these are listed in the policy

8

9



What is your agency’s policy when

pursuing officers have lost sight of the

fleeing vehicle?

1 Possible termination when the pursued vehicle’s

location is no longer definitely known

2 Consider termination depending on knowledge of

the location of the pursued vehicle

3 Shall terminate when the primary unit has lost sight

of the pursued vehicle and visual contact is not

immediately regained

4 There is no reference to continuing or terminating a

pursuit when a fleeing vehicle is no longer sighted

5

6




when officers...


responding to a direct request to take over

an inter-jurisdictional pursuit?

1 Can decline for any reason (e.g., ability to maintain

the pursuit; circumstances serious enough; adequate

staffing; public and officer safety)

2 Can decline for a misdemeanor offense only

3 Requires supervisor approval

4 Must accept, assuming responsibility for the pursuit

if specifically requested to do so

5 There is no specific policy on accepting or declining

an inter-jurisdictional request to assume a pursuit

6

7

How do your agency and the CHP

handle inter-jurisdictional requests for

assistance during a pursuit?

1 A request for CHP assistance means CHP units will

assume responsibilities for the pursuit; when CHP

requests local assistance, CHP units should relinquish

control

2 Upon commencement of a pursuit, whenever

possible, the supervisor requests that the CHP take

over responsibility

3 The CHP/local agency relationship regarding pursuits

is not specified in our agency’s policy

4

5



When another jurisdiction has taken

over your agency’s pursuit, does your

agency’s policy specify any further role for

your agency at the conclusion of the

pursuit?

1 The original Primary provides arresting officers with

information/guidance/probable cause, assists in any

investigation

2 The initiating officer or Primary makes the

arrest/takes into custody

3 The supervising officer at the termination point shall

determine if the initiating officer or other officers are

needed for report or identification purposes

4 There is no specific policy regarding roles at

termination/arrest in another jurisdiction

5

6




when officers should

terminate a pursuit

Who is authorized to terminate a

pursuit?

1 Any involved officer may call for termination

2 Any involved officer may call for termination; the

supervisor has final authority to terminate

3 The Primary and the Supervisor have the authority to

terminate

4 Only the Supervisor may call for termination

6 The policy lists no specific roles related to

termination

7

Among possible reasons to terminate a

pursuit, does your policy include knowing

the identity of the offender?

1 Yes, knowing the identity of the offender is a possible

reason to terminate a pursuit

2 No, knowing the identity of the offender is not stated

in our policy as a possible reason to terminate a

pursuit

3

Which of the following factors are also

listed in your agency’s policy as possible

reasons to terminate a pursuit?

2 Immediate apprehension not more important than

public/officer safety

3 Passengers in fleeing vehicle

4 Number of suspects in relation to number of

officers/units

5

6

7

8




intervention policies.

Which of these pursuit intervention

tactics are officers permitted to use per

your agency’s policy?

1 Ramming

2 Tire deflation device (eg. spike or tack strips)

3 Blocking

4 Boxing

5 Roadblocks

6 There is no mention of interventions in our agency

policy

7 No pursuit intervention tactics are authorized per

our agency’s policy

8

9

According to your agency’s policy, are

there any conditions that must be met

before these pursuit interventions may be

used?

1 Only with permission of supervisor and when the

dangers of continuing the pursuit outweigh the

dangers of intervention

2 When other reasonable efforts to stop the vehicle

have failed, been exhausted, or are ineffective

3 In cases involving felony suspects or impaired drivers

who pose a threat to public safety

4 If it does not pose a risk to officer safety

5 Our agency’s policy makes no mention of pursuit

intervention tactics

6

7



According to your agency’s policy, the

PIT Maneuver:

1 Can only be used by trained officers with supervisor

approval

2 Can only be used when other intervention tactics

have been exhausted or are unavailable

3 Is prohibited

4 Is not mentioned specifically

5 Is mentioned as an intervention, but no rule on it is

included

6

7




apprehension.

At the end of a pursuit, who does your

agency’s policy say should coordinate

efforts to apprehend the suspects?

1 The Primary

2 The Primary, unless relieved by a Supervisor

3 The Supervisor

4 Any officer present on scene

5 No specific coordinating role is stated in policy

6

7

Related to a safe and disciplined

capture following a pursuit, does your

agency’s policy mention developing a plan

for containing/capturing a suspect?

1 The policy specifically mentions having “plans to

contain and capture the suspects” to ensure public

and officer safety

2 The policy does not mention having a plan to contain

and capture the suspects

3 The policy does not mention having a plan but does

mention the general need for public and officer

safety at point of capture

4

5


details

According to your agency’s policy, who

is responsible for supplying the details of

the vehicle pursuit, crime, and arrest for

the CHP Form 187A or other post-pursuit

reports?

1 The primary officer

2 The initiating officer

3 Personnel involved in the pursuit

4 The supervisor

5 No specific person or persons are designated in the

policy

6

7



After internal review by your chain of

command, who oversees submission of the

CHP Form 187A or other post-pursuit

reports?

1 Sergeant

2 Watch commander

3 Shift supervisor

4 Investigative detective

5 No specific role is designated in our policy

6

7




the reporting policies for

supervisors.

Is a supervisor required to approve an

officer's decision to initiate a vehicle

pursuit?

1 Our policy states that a supervisor is required to

approve an officer’s initiation of a pursuit

2 Our policy allows an officer to initiate without

supervisory approval

3 There is no specific policy on whether a supervisor

must approve the initiation of a pursuit

4

Is a supervisor required to approve an

officer's decision to terminate a vehicle

pursuit?

1 Our policy states that a supervisor is required to

confirm an officer’s call to terminate a pursuit

2 Our policy allows an officer to terminate without

supervisory approval

3 There is no specific policy on whether a supervisor

must issue the final termination order when another

officer calls for termination

4

According to your agency policy, can a

supervisor terminate a pursuit based on

his/her judgment?

1 Our policy says the supervisor may terminate if, in

his/her judgment, it is unjustified to continue the

pursuit

2 Our policy does not specifically state that

termination may be based on a supervisor’s

judgment call but says the supervisor can discontinue

the pursuit, when necessary, in accordance with

policy

3 Our policy does not specifically state that

termination may be based on a supervisor’s

judgment call

4




the reporting policies for

supervisors.

According to your agency’s policy, what

is the supervisor’s responsibility for post-

pursuit reporting?

1 Write and submit the report

2 Submit the report written by officers involved in the

pursuit

3 Oversee submission of the report by officers involved

in the pursuit

4 Critique the pursuit for training purposes

5 Our policy does not list supervisor reporting

responsibilities

6

7

What final report(s) does your agency’s

policy state should be submitted after a

vehicle pursuit?

1 A CHP Form 187A

2 A Department Pursuit Report

3 No specific report is mentioned in our policy

4

6

7

According to your agency’s policy on

reporting:

1 The final post-pursuit report should include a

preliminary determination whether the pursuit

appears to be in compliance with our policy

2 There is no mention of including a statement on

whether the pursuit complied with our policy

4




the after action

responsibility for

supervisors.

According to your policy, what are the

responsibilities of a supervisor after a

vehicle pursuit? 

1 Review all pertinent reports for content and accuracy

2 Prepare a post-pursuit critique and analysis of the

pursuit for training purposes

3 Determine whether the pursuit appears to be in

compliance with agency policy

4 No post-pursuit requirements for supervisors are

listed in our policy

5

6

What specific wording does your policy

include regarding an officer's decision not

to engage in a pursuit?

1 “No officer or supervisor shall be criticized or

disciplined for deciding not to engage in a vehicular

pursuit based on the risk involved”

2 Our policy contains no wording specific to disciplining

an officer for a decision not to engage in a vehicle

pursuit

6


communication.

What does your policy say in terms of

communication channels to use during a

pursuit?

1 Within jurisdiction limits, use the primary channel

unless directed otherwise

2 When the pursuit may leave jurisdiction limits, use

an accessible emergency channel

3 Our policy does not specify which channel or

frequency to use

4

5



Who does your agency’s policy say is

responsible for ensuring that the proper

channels or frequencies are used during a

vehicle pursuit?

1 The Supervisor

2 The Dispatcher

3 The Primary

4 There is no mention of responsibility for proper

communication channels

5

6




a “mini-pursuit” with

several decision points.

According to your agency policy on

initiating a pursuit:

1 A pursuit may be initiated when there is reasonable

suspicion of a serious crime or offense

2 A pursuit may be initiated only when there is

certainty that a serious crime or offense has been

committed

3 There is no policy on initiating a pursuit based on

suspicion versus certainty of a crime

4

What is your agency’s policy on passing

the Primary?

1 Passing is allowed

2 Passing is not allowed unless the Primary can no

longer continue

3 Passing is not allowed, unless permission received

from the unit to be passed

4 Avoid passing unless instructed/requested

5 There is no specific policy on passing

6

7

If an officer acts contrary to policy or

supervisor commands, what does your

policy say about exemption from

liability?

1 [An officer is not exempt] from either civil or criminal

liability for unreasonable or arbitrary acts resulting in

harm or injury to others

2 [An officer is exempt from liability] only when the

vehicle is operated with due regard for the safety of

all persons using the highway

3 Officers are exempt from all liability during a pursuit


Vehicle Code § 17001 (liable for death or

injury…caused by a negligent or wrongful act or

omission)

5

6



When the primary and secondary units

lose sight of the vehicle in a pursuit, your

policy is:

1 Continuing or terminating depends on knowledge of

the pursued vehicle’s location

2 Termination is possible when the pursued vehicle’s

location is no longer definitely known

3 Termination is standard procedure when the fleeing

vehicle is lost, but not specified in policy

4 Losing sight of the fleeing vehicle is not mentioned in

our policy

5

Which of these roles has the authority

to call for termination of a pursuit?

1 The Primary

2 The Secondary

3 The Dispatcher

4 The Supervisor

5 Air Support

6 No specific roles are cited in our policy as having

authority to call for termination

7

8




an activity about decision

making during a pursuit.

According to your agency policy, how

many units are allowed in a pursuit?

1 Two units

2 Two units plus a supervisor

3 Three units

4 Three units plus a supervisor

5 Four units plus a supervisor

6 Our policy has no stated limit on the number of units

that may pursue.

7

According to your agency policy,

paralling a pursuit is:

1 Not allowed

2 Not allowed unless needed along the route to block

or clear intersections

3 Not allowed unless for intervention or blocking

intersections

4 Not allowed unless authorized

5 Allowed

6 Our agency has no specific policy on paralleling a

pursuit

6

According to your agency policy, who

may assign additional units?

1 A supervisor

2 Any officer involved in the pursuit, or a supervisor

3 The Primary or a supervisor

4 The Primary, any officer involved in the pursuit, or a

supervisor

5 This is not specified in our policy

6




the main responsibility of the Secondary


1 Broadcast progress of the pursuit

2




tracing a pursuit.

According to your agency’s policy, a

pursuit may be initiated based upon which

of the following factors?

1 The seriousness of the known or reasonably

suspected crime

2 A serious crime only

3 Threat to public safety

4 Apparent need for immediate capture

5 Our policy does not specify factors for initiating a

pursuit

6

7

Which of these pursuit intervention

tactics are officers permitted to use per

your agency’s policy?

1 Ramming

2 Tire deflation device

3 Blocking

4 Boxing

5 Roadblocks

6 PIT Maneuver

7 There is no mention of interventions in our agency

policy

8 No pursuit intervention tactics are authorized per

our agency’s policy

9

10

At the end of a pursuit, who does your

agency’s policy say should coordinate

efforts to apprehend the suspects?

1 The Primary

2 A Supervisor

3 Any officer present on scene

4 No specific coordinating role is identified in our

policy

5

6



Who is authorized to terminate a

pursuit?

1 Any involved officer may call for termination

2 Any involved officer may call for termination; the

supervisor has final authority to terminate

3 The Primary and the Supervisor have the authority to

terminate

4 Only the Supervisor may call for termination

6 The policy lists no specific roles related to

termination

7



Create your own multiple-

choice question if a topic

important to your agency

has not been covered.

Type in a situation

(optional), the question,

and answer choices.

Vehicle Pursuit Policy Customization Questionnaire Topic ...Vehicle Code § 17001 (liable for death or injury…caused by a negligent or wrongful act or omission) 5 6. Vehicle Pursuit

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