Establishing a Foot Pursuit Policy

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

(9.) Supra note 3, 59.

(10.) Supra note 1, 43-44.

March 8, 1997, Winter Haven, Florida: "The male allegedly fled into nearby woods, and the officer, who was wearing body armor, pursued him on foot. Backup officers arriving on the scene moments later heard gunshots and immediately began a search of the area." [1] They found the victim officer several yards away with a fatal gunshot wound to the face.

July 20, 1997, Portland, Oregon: "Recognizing the individual as the suspect they were looking for, the officers both gave chase into the overgrown backyard of the residence where they became separated by a hedge. The victim officer was shot at close range with a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun in the hand, leg, and fatally in the sternum, just above the collar of his protective vest. " [2]

Officer Injured During a Foot Pursuit

While on vehicle patrol, the victim officer and his partner saw two individuals in an automobile. After determining that the pair matched the description of two suspects wanted for possessing a handgun, the officers stopped the vehicle. The passenger immediately fled on foot, and the victim officer chased him for several blocks. After the victim officer lost sight of the suspect, he began searching an area in front of a building. The suspect, hiding in nearby bushes, opened fire with a small-caliber handgun and wounded the officer in the head and legs, causing extensive injury. The assailant escaped from the scene but surrendered to authorities 2 days later. The victim officer survived the attack but could not resume his duties and retired from the department. [9]

Officer Killed During a Foot Pursuit

After responding to a domestic abuse call, the victim officer saw a man fitting the suspect's description run into a field. The officer exited his patrol vehicle and chased the man through some tall weeds. During the pursuit, the suspect turned and fired a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun, striking the officer in the wrist, twice in his protective vest, and once just above the vest. The victim officer returned gunfire, striking the suspect twice in the torso. The pursuit continued until the suspect fatally wounded himself in the chest. The officer died later at a local hospital. [10]

Tips for Surviving Foot Pursuits

To minimize the risk of injury or death, officers should heed some time-proven techniques that veteran officers have used to safely capture fleeing suspects. During foot pursuits, officers should--

* always radio their dispatchers to advise of their location, the reason for pursuing the suspect, and the direction of the chase;

* always ensure that suspects who flee from vehicles do not have accomplices in the car who may attack from behind;

* always take their vehicle keys with them to avoid having suspects return to the scene and flee in police units;

* always wait for backup if they believe that the suspect is armed;

* always try to follow the same general path as the suspects so that the suspects discover any hidden obstacles--such as clotheslines, wires, cables, holes, and sprinkler heads--first; and