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ST. ANTHONY POLICE DEPARTMENT MANUAL Department vehicles shall not be driven when they are in- unsafe mechanical condition. Officers shall inspect their assigned vehicle before each tour of duty and report any damage or mechanical failure to their immediate superior and a repair order must be completed. 4 - 816.2 VEHICLE PURSUIT GUIDELINES Vehicle pursuits are necessary to apprehend actual or suspected law. violators who refuse to voluntarily comply with a request to stop. In addition, they are necessary to deter others from violating the law. Because vehicle pursuits may be dangerous however, restrictions must be placed on their use. Further, officers must carefully exercise their discretion to initiate, conduct, and continue a pursuit. This discretion necessarily involves the consideration of complex and unpredictable factors. This policy provides restrictions on the use of vehicle pursuits and guidelines for officers in the exercise of their permitted discretion. 4 - 816.3 INITIATING'A' PURSUIT Generall . Vehicle pursuit i.s justified only where, prior to the activation of any- signal the operator of a vehicle, the officer has a reasonable and lawful basis according to Minnesota Law, to stop this vehicle. When such a vehicle fails to stop in response to clear direction from the officer, the officer must exercise his/ her discretion as to whether pursuit is appropriate. In order to diminish the likelihood of a pursuit, officers intending to stop a vehicle should, when practical,be within a close proximity to the vehicle prior to activating the emergency lights and siren. Throughout the pursuit, all part- icipating units shall have their emergency lights and sirens activated .and shall exercise due care in the operation of vehicles. • EVALUATING THE'CIRCUMSTANCES OF'THE' PURSUIT An officer shall consider the relative dangerousness of the pursuit in comparison with the public interest in immediate apprehension. In evaluating whether to engage in or continue the pursuit, the officer shall consider relevant factors such as the following: 1. The nature and seriousness of the observed offenses 2. The degree of recklessness exhibited by the pursued driver; 3. The ability of the officer to identify and apprehend the driver at a later time without continuing the pursuit; 4. Road and weather conditions; 5. The density of traffic and pedestrians; 6. The apparent age of the driver; 7. Whether the vehicle is a motorcycle or similar vehicle; 8. The apparent condition of the pursued vehicle; 9. The type and condtion of the police vehicle; 10. The officer's familiarity with the area; 11. The time of day; 12. The driving skills of the officer and the driver of the pursued vehicle; 68 SEP 2 5 1489