Establishing a Foot Pursuit Policy

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,The, May, 2000 by Shannon Bohrer, Edward F. Davis, Thomas J. Garrity, Jr.

Defining the Terms

After developing the primary purpose of the foot pursuit policy, the department set out to define the concepts and individuals involved in foot chases. The department determined that-

* a foot pursuit means the physical attempt by an officer(s), without the aid of a vehicle or other motorized device, to detain, arrest, or otherwise take physical custody of an individual who attempts to flee on foot;

* a law enforcement officer defines any individual sworn to uphold the law, certified by the Police Training Commission, and currently employed by a public safety agency;

* a supervisor is a law enforcement officer who, by virtue of rank or assignment, directs or supervises the activities of other officers;

* a violator includes any individual who a police officer reasonably believes has committed an offense or poses an immediate threat to the safety of the public or other officers;

* the team concept describes the practice of having two or more officers work together during a foot pursuit. The officers work in unison via direct or indirect communication to coordinate their efforts, remain aware of the location of officers and suspects, and keep abreast of the status of the pursuit.

Establishing the Procedures

The Collingswood Police Department clearly understood that a police officer has the authority, at all times, to attempt to stop any individual suspected of committing any criminal offense, violation, or traffic infraction. However, the department also realized that while the officer initiates the stop, the violator provokes the pursuit by fleeing. Therefore, the department wanted its officers to base their decisions on whether to pursue a fleeing suspect on the degree of risk to themselves or others.

To aid officers in making such decisions, the department developed five criteria that restrict the use of foot pursuits. While the department did not want to stop its officers from capturing fleeing suspects, it did want them to consider the possible consequences of such actions. Therefore, the department determined that its officers should not conduct foot pursuits--

1) into vacant or occupied buildings, structures, confined spaces, or wooded/isolated locations without using the team concept or without supervisory authorization, except in the event of extreme urgency, such as the immediate threat to the safety of the general public or other officers;

2) if they believe that the danger to pursuing officers or the public outweighs the necessity for immediate apprehension;

3) if they get disarmed or lose possession of their service weapons;

4) if they lose contact with their fellow officers or the department's communication center; or

5) if they lose visual contact with the violator and become unsure of the suspect's whereabouts or continued direction of travel.

Along with these restrictions, the department established procedures for reinstating pursuits and conducting interjurisdictional pursuits. Accordingly, officers should reinstate any previously terminated foot pursuit consistent with the authorization criteria for initiating a new pursuit. In interjurisdictional pursuits, the original pursuing jurisdiction should provide timely notification of a foot pursuit in progress to any other jurisdiction that the pursuit enters.