Police Pursuits

Capt.,

That's a pretty restrictive state you got there. I think failing to stop for police should be at least a 10 year felony in any state.
 
SCCop

Boy, do I agree with that! Probably wouldn't stop most idiots, but at least it stop 'em from doing it again for awhile. Yeah, Ohio is restrictive, but compared to Baltimore, we practically have a free hand. The Revised Code doesn't stop us from doing our job, but it makes for stiffer penalties if you screw up. Our dept. policy came into being because of one man. The worst driver in the world. I think he had 15 accidents in like 5 years (all but one his fault). They put him on desk duty for 6 months, and the day, the very same day that he was put back on the road, he responded to a fight (between two females, no weapons. Cat fight :D ), out of his sector, that he wasn't dispatched to, and without lights or siren. He T-boned another watch commander's cruiser when he ran the light at an intersection :eek: . I think he's selling insurance or something today :D .
 
Boy, I'da been screwed then. Going by SCCop suggestions. I recieved an atempting to elude ticket from a Alabama State trooper when I was 17. I was on my way back to the Univ of Alabama on I-59 doing 99mph (that's what the ticket said). Yeah I was going much faster than I shoulda. Hey I had a very fast car at the time, and I was young and stupid. I loved that car :( .

Anyway, I was doing that speed, then got off at exit ramp, pull up to gas station, got out to go inside (by the way I never noticed the trooper) and trooper pulls up couple seconds later. Tells me to come over to the car talks to me and then ask me to sit in the front seat with him while he runs the license and all that jazz. Bottom line is a got the attempting to elude he said because I exited the Interstate and went onto another road.

Course I told him I didn't even know I was being "chased" till I started to walk to the gas station and the officer pulls up. He said sorry, but he'd already reported a "runner" and I left the interstate.

If there was a 10yr pen time I'd still have 6yrs left to serve for that crap!
 
I really thought that was the reason the vehicles were provided with the equipment, to at least give the public a chance to get out of the way.
There is a lot of difference between pulling up behind someone going 40 in a 30 mph zone and flicking the light bar and running 50-90 mph down heavily traveled city streets with only lights or even nothing, just really not good sense.
Don

Because of the Doppler effect, sirens used to warn people of your approach are next to useless at high speeds. You simply won't hear the siren of a police car that is coming up behind you at 80 or 90 mph. It barely matters if the siren is on or not at that speed.
 
I am pretty sure that ERV's have a device that can cause traffic lights to go on in their favor. in fact, the left wing state just made them illegal for joe schmuckatelli to own. if there wasn't a device, then there would be no law (in my mind.) now to all you leo's, have you heard about this? if so, is it in use, and if that answer is affirmative, then why isn't it used more often?
 
TBO - I'm sure your right. I've been woken up - but I fall back to sleep, not a big deal.

I live near a nursing home/old-age home (whatever it's called) and at all times of the day/night there can be an ambulance coming to pick up the ill or dying. People don't conveniently fall into deaths arms, or harms way at 12-noon. I understand this.

As Mr. Drebin states, the siren is useless at high speeds. I'm sure he would know better than I. But at the same time I'd at least like the opportunity, as a motorist, to have the slightest chance of a "heads up" that a 3,000lb vehicle is approaching me at 90mph.

Anyone that's unable to realize that someone's safety or health override their "right to sleep" ( :rolleyes: ) is ignorant, selfish, and may one day (hopefully not) be thankful that the LEO or other ERV was able to reach them in time to save their life or property.
 
Back in the early 80's, we had a chief that lived along a major street. He had standing orders that, after 2300, you WILL turn off the siren within 1/4 mile of his house :eek: Nobody ever received formal discipline, but you did NOT want this guy chewing your a**. He was a pro! (retired Marine Gunny) :D I have walked out of his office on more than one occasion with part of one cheek missing :eek: :D .

M198, the technology does exist, but it is VERY expensive and complex. Every major light in the city has to have the electronics installed, and it's complex because the system has to be able to recognize what direction the unit's coming from. It's not just a matter of a simple transmitter/receiver setup.
 
I was just verifying that the tech existed. I know that it would take a lot of money to work it out, and mainly only in large cities. but there are many other options that can be used to help stop high speed pursuits. like change that sop. start training roadblocks and coordinated stops for certain units strategically positioned around the area, and greatly increase the punishment. we actually trained the Marines going back to Iraq in how to do this and I was a bg driver during this. knowing how they would do blocks and try to stop me, I would do something new everytime to see how they reacted. like drive through a carport instead of down the street like they thought I would. 9 times out of 10 they would be able to stop me the next time I tried something new without shooting at me. there were a few times that I had to chew some PFC or LCpl out (I am a Sgt) for putting himself in danger when it was not needed because of a better method being engaged down the road. but you still need to review how chases are done. It is probably the best bet to spin the bg car out as soon as possible and to actually get vehicles that are designed to do high speed chases. TX uses SS Camaros, Pheonix uses Corvettes. Perhaps the force needs to switch to SS Monte Carlos (I am a GM person, all I ever owned) because of horsepower and size to carry bg's, as well as weight to push other car into spin if needed. Just an idea, not saying i will create policy for leo's.
 
M198

It is probably the best bet to spin the bg car out as soon as possible.....
I think you're referring to a PIT maneuver. They can work very well, but the only problem is that in most states a PIT is considered deadly force.
 
I don't know what the policy is there today, I haven't lived there in 15 years, but the local PD in Xenia Ohio had some troubles with chases in town. I happened to see one of their "ooops!" one afternoon, two cruisers responding to a call blew thru a 4-way stop sign at the same moment. 1 cruiser ended up on its roof about 50' away from the intersection in a field. I never heard if anyone was hurt ( I hope not ) but it was definitely a "Keystone Kops" moment.
 
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