41D-High Speed Pursuit 2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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41D - High Speed Pursuits Policy & Procedure Page 2 of 14 Many factors should have a bearing on this decision; the major ones are listed here: • Nature of the offense; • Road conditions; • Traffic conditions; • Time of day; • Type of vehicle pursued; • Condition of cruiser. • Pedestrians • Population • Density Once made, the decision to pursue is not irrevocable, and it is the intelligent officer who knows when to discontinue the chase. In many instances it is often better to abandon the pursuit where the risks of injury to the public or to the pursuing officer are high and/or when weather or road conditions are poor. The experience and common sense of each officer should also provide guidance in this important decision. Efforts to obtain information that may lead to identifying the operator, occupants, or registered owner of a vehicle, and would allow investigation and potential prosecution without sustained high-speed pursuit, should be considered and tried whenever possible (i.e. CJIS- Criminal Justice Information System databases) In general, the procedural guidelines in this directive shall govern the actions of Lexington Police Officers during any high-speed pursuit. However, when the terminology sustained high-speed pursuit is used, very strict procedural guidelines will be followed. It is the policy of the Lexington Police Department that a vehicular pursuit is authorized when it is necessary to apprehend a suspect fleeing in a motor vehicle who has committed a serious felony crime against the person such as rape, armed robbery, murder, and lesser included violent crimes. PROCEDURE A. Definitions 1. Authorized Police Vehicle: A Lexington Police Department motor vehicle equipped with operable audible and visual emergency warning equipment. 2. Densely Populated Area: An established area of a city or town that is thickly settled and/or composed of a business district marked by compactness, with pedestrian and vehicular traffic. 3. Primary Unit: An authorized police vehicle that is the first vehicle behind the pursued vehicle.