PURPOSE

To facilitate the safe apprehension of a subject who flees on foot and to reduce the likelihood of injuries to all involved parties.

DEFINITIONS

Foot Pursuits:

A situations in which an officer, on foot, chases a subject in an effort to detain or arrest that individual, when the subject is avoiding police contact by fleeing from the officer.

Subject:

Includes any individual who a police officer has a lawful reason to detain.

PROCEDURE

Whenever an officer decides to engage, or continue to engage, in a foot pursuit, a quick risk assessment must take place. Officers must evaluate the risk involved to themselves, other officers, the subject, and the community to balance that risk with the need to pursue and immediately apprehend the subject.

Factors to consider when initiating a foot pursuit:

• Whether the subject is armed or dangerous

• The reason for detaining the subject

• Risk to officers and/or the community posed by the subject

• Environmental risks (low light levels, dangerous structures, officer's familiarity with the area, likelihood to keep sight of subject, etc)

• Ability to apprehend the subject at a later date and time

• Communications (Ability to transmit location and radio coverage)

• Physical ability of the officer to:

  • Apprehend the subject (officer/subject factors, available equipment, etc)

  • Ability to communicate with dispatch and other units

  • Be readily identifiable as an officer (Uniform or plain clothes)

• Availability of backup units to assist

Pursuing Officer(s) Responsibility:

Once the foot pursuit has been initiated, and as soon as practical, considering the difficulty in transmitting under the circumstances. The officer shall broadcast the following information to dispatch and other officers:

• Location

• Direction

• Description of subject(s)

• Whether the subject(s) is armed

• Reason for foot pursuit

Pursuing officer(s) will coordinate with other officers to establish a perimeter in the area to contain the subject(s). K9 use should be considered if the subject is believed to be in the confined area.

Officers shall terminate a foot pursuit if ordered by a supervisor. If the officer believes that the risk to officers or the public outweighs the necessity for immediate apprehension of the subject, they shall terminate the foot pursuit. If the subject's identity is known and the subject(s) does not pose an immediate threat to the safety of the public or other officers, consideration should be given to terminating the pursuit and apprehending the suspect(s) at a later date and time.

After termination of the foot pursuit, officers shall notify dispatch with the last known location of the subject(s) or point of apprehension.

Supervisor Responsibility:

The supervisor's role is to monitor a foot pursuit and appropriately direct resources to safely apprehend the subject(s).

Supervisors shall coordinate with involved officers to establish a perimeter.

Supervisors will terminate a foot pursuit at any time if it is determined the danger to the pursuing officers or to the public outweighs the necessity for immediate apprehension of the subject(s).

Original SOP: 12/01/2024
Revised: