7-402 - Pursuit Policy

This policy is intended to establish expectations of MPD sworn employees who, during the course of their duties, become involved in a vehicular pursuit.

Air Support: For the purpose of this policy, it shall mean a Minnesota State Patrol Helicopter. (See P&P 6-111 Minnesota State Patrol Helicopter)

Discontinued: Discontinuation is a condition affecting individual participation in a pursuit and not the safety of the overall pursuit. This may be due to stopping at a light rail crossing, an equipment malfunction or another similar reason, and may be a temporary pause. Individual participation in a pursuit is discontinued when the participating squad has discontinued the use of sirens, slowed to the posted speed limit or stopped, and when feasible discontinued the use of emergency lights.

End of Pursuit: A pursuit is ended when all participating squads have terminated or discontinued their participation or after the suspect was apprehended.

Great Bodily Harm: Bodily injury, which creates a high probability of death, or which causes serious permanent disfiguration, or which causes a permanent or protracted loss or impairment of any bodily member or organ or other serious bodily harm.

Offender: The operator of a vehicle being pursued who has been signaled to stop.

Police Vehicles:

1. Fully Marked Squad Car: Any vehicle used by the MPD that has clearly identifying police markings, emergency lights visible from front, sides and rear, siren, and a manufacturer's rating to make it suitable for pursuits. Currently, the Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Police Interceptor SUV, Chevrolet Caprice, and the Chevy Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) are the only vehicles in the MPD Fleet with such a rating.
2. Low Profile Squad Car: Any vehicle used by the MPD that has a permanent or temporary MPD door marking, emergency lights visible from front, sides and rear, siren, and a manufacturer's rating to make it suitable for pursuits.
3. Unmarked Squad Car: Any vehicle used by the MPD not clearly identified with a shield, logo or department name that has emergency lights visible from the front, sides and rear, and a manufacturer’s rating to make it suitable for pursuits.

Primary Squad: The squad car that initiates the vehicular pursuit, or any squad that assumes control of the pursuit.

Pursuit Rated Vehicle: Some police vehicles are designated by the manufacturer as “pursuit rated.” This rating indicates the manufacturer certifies the vehicle to be generally suitable for high-speed police pursuits. Not all police vehicles are considered “pursuit rated” and those without the rating shall not be used during a pursuit, in accordance with this policy. The Fleet Services unit maintains a list of pursuit rated vehicles.

Pursuit Supervisor: The supervisor who monitors and manages the pursuit.

Secondary Squads: Police squad cars that provide direct support in the pursuit to the primary squad and follow the primary squad at a safe distance.

Terminated: A pursuit is terminated when all participating squads do the following, without or prior to the apprehension of the offender:

• turn off sirens
• stop the squad cars completely, or slow to the posted speed limit and turn off the pursuit route at the next available intersection, and
• turn off emergency lights (when feasible).

Vehicular Pursuit: A vehicular pursuit is a multi-stage process in which a peace officer initiates a vehicular stop and a driver resists the signal or order to stop by increasing speed, taking evasive action, extinguishing motor vehicle headlights or taillights, refusing to stop the vehicle or using other means with intent to attempt to elude the peace officer. Once the driver refuses to obey the peace officer’s signal or order, this pursuit policy and procedure will determine the officer’s and agency’s actions.

Continuously Weigh Risk

Officers shall not initiate a pursuit or shall terminate a pursuit in progress if the pursuit poses an unreasonable risk to the officers, the public or passengers of the vehicle being pursued who may be unwilling participants.

1. Officers shall always be aware of the inherent danger to the public and to themselves in vehicle pursuits or emergency responses.
2. Officers shall continuously weigh the necessity for apprehension against the risk created for the officers and the general public. Officers shall consider factors such as weather, vehicle and pedestrian traffic, as well as any other factors that could contribute to an unreasonable risk to safety.

Decision to Participate

All officers involved in a pursuit must decide whether or not to participate, discontinue their individual involvement, or if appropriate, to transfer their responsibility to another squad. Officers shall immediately take and acknowledge direction from the assigned pursuit supervisor.

Take Direction from Pursuit Supervisor

Officers shall immediately take and acknowledge direction from the assigned pursuit supervisor.

Authority to Intervene

All MPD supervisors at the rank of Lieutenant or higher have the authority to intervene in a pursuit if they feel the pursuit should be terminated, but cannot overrule a supervisor of higher rank.

1. Supervisors terminating any pursuit shall complete a statement in the pursuit report that documents their basis for terminating the pursuit.

2. This section is in addition to the responsibilities and authority assigned to the pursuit supervisor.
3. All sworn employees have a duty to inform the pursuit supervisor if they know of specific hazards that appear to be in the pursuit path. Examples include, but are not limited to, Open Streets events, block parties, etc.

Approaching Vehicle at Pursuit Conclusion

1. Officers are strongly discouraged from immediately approaching a stopped vehicle at the conclusion of a pursuit.
2. Where reasonably possible, officers shall use felony stop tactical procedures.

Pursuit Squad Limit

Vehicle pursuits are limited to the primary marked squad and no more than two secondary marked squads unless otherwise authorized by the pursuit supervisor over the radio.

1. Additional squads beyond the primary and two secondary squads shall not engage or attempt to engage in a pursuit unless specifically authorized by the pursuit supervisor over the radio.

2. Supporting or responding officers (such as those attempting to strategically place themselves in the area of pursuit’s conclusion or those securing or maintaining a perimeter) shall follow the requirements in P&P 7-401, including using speeds and driving that do not present a danger to the public or to other officers.

Pursuits Outside of Minneapolis

Officers shall not engage in pursuits outside the corporate city limits of Minneapolis, unless authorized by an on-duty supervisor, in accordance with the section in this policy on Pursuits into Other Jurisdictions.

Initiating, Continuing, or Terminating a Pursuit

Vehicle type limits

Fully marked, low profile and unmarked squads can initiate a pursuit, provided the squad is equipped with department authorized emergency lights and a siren and is rated for pursuit by the manufacturer.

1. Low profile and unmarked squads shall discontinue their involvement once a fully marked squad is involved.
2. Other police vehicles shall not be used in pursuits.

Offense limit for a pursuit when identity is unknown

Officers shall not initiate a pursuit unless:

• The officer knows or has reasonable grounds to believe the suspect has committed violent pursuit offense; or
• The officer has current, credible information that the individual is about to commit violent pursuit offense; or
• The suspect’s driving prior to the attempted stop is so flagrantly reckless that the driver would pose an imminent and life-threatening danger to the public if not apprehended.

1. Violent pursuit offenses under this section are limited to:

• The attempt or act of murder
• Violent sex crimes
• Robbery
• Arson
• Kidnapping
• Car jacking (not to include auto theft or stolen motor vehicle, which are property crimes)
• 1st and 2nd degree assault
• Felony firearm discharges
• Firearm pointing in violation of MN Statute section 609.66 Dangerous Weapons
• 1st degree burglary
• Terrorist acts

2. Examples of such flagrantly reckless driving that is life-threatening to the public include, but are not limited to:

• Collisions with other vehicles or objects
• Forcing other vehicles to take evasive action to avoid collision
• Failure to stop at controlled intersections without slowing

3. A pursuit shall not be initiated or shall be terminated if the driver is refusing to or failing to stop and the only known reason for the attempted stop is a petty misdemeanor or misdemeanor.

Offense limit for a pursuit when identity is established

1. Officers shall not initiate a pursuit or shall terminate a pursuit in progress when the offender’s identity is established (so that an apprehension can be made at another time), unless the offense is one of the following crimes:

• Sexual assault involving the use or threatened use of a dangerous weapon.
• Homicide
• 1st and 2nd degree assault
• Aggravated robbery
• Kidnapping
• Firearms- felony firearm discharges, firearm pointing in violation of MN Statute section 609.66 Dangerous Weapons

2. These exceptions do not include holds or warrants to appear for probation revocation, or violations of conditional release, unless delayed apprehension would create a substantial or known risk of injury or death to another.

Terminating a pursuit for reckless driving

If continuation of a pursuit for flagrantly reckless driving increases the danger to the public, officers shall terminate the pursuit.

Wrong way on freeways

During a pursuit, officers shall not drive their vehicle the wrong way on freeways. They may, however, go down the wrong way of a freeway ramp to make a traffic stop on a vehicle going the wrong way to prevent it from entering the main portion of the freeway.

Wrong way on one-way streets

Officers may not pursue the wrong direction on one-way streets without due consideration for existing conditions as listed in this policy.

Non-MPD employees in squad

Individuals who are not pre-approved

When any individual is in the squad who is not an MPD employee and is not pre-approved by a supervisor to be in the squad:

1. Officers shall not engage in a pursuit under any circumstance.
2. Examples include prisoners, or any person being transported in relation to a call for service or for any other reason, etc.

Pre-approved individuals

Initiating a pursuit

When any pre-approved individual is in the squad who is not an MPD employee (this includes Ride-alongs who are not MPD employees), officers may only initiate a pursuit for one of the following crimes:

• Sexual assault involving the use or threatened use of a dangerous weapon
• Homicide
• 1st and 2nd degree assault
• Aggravated robbery
• Kidnapping

1.    These exceptions do not include holds or warrants to appear for probation revocation, or violations of conditional release, unless delayed apprehension would reasonably create a substantial or known risk of injury or death to another.
2.    The officers shall discontinue their participation in the pursuit as soon as another squad is able to take over as the primary pursuit squad.

Secondary pursuit squad

When any pre-approved individual is in the squad who is not an MPD employee (this includes Ride-alongs who are not MPD employees), officers shall not participate as a secondary pursuit squad.

Previously terminated pursuit

Officers shall not initiate a previously terminated pursuit within 20 minutes of the termination, unless there are exigent circumstances.

Terminating a pursuit due to distance or loss of visual contact

Officers shall terminate a pursuit in progress whenever the distance between the primary pursuit squad and the offender is so great that further pursuit is futile, or when the primary pursuit marked squad loses visual contact of the offender for a significant period of time (approximately 10-15 seconds).

Discontinuing participation required

Discontinuation applies to whole squad

Any time a squad is required by policy to discontinue participation or chooses to discontinue participation, it applies to the vehicle and all officers in the squad.

Crash occurs

The pursuit squad shall discontinue its participation and stop to check for injuries if a crash results from the pursuit, and immediate medical assistance is needed or the pursuit supervisor has designated the squad to stop and check for injuries.

1. The pursuit squad shall discontinue its participation and stop to check for injuries if a crash results from the pursuit, and immediate medical assistance is needed or the pursuit supervisor has designated the squad to stop and check for injuries.
2. The squad(s) shall notify via radio that they are stopping to check for injuries.

Equipment or radio malfunction

The pursuit shall discontinue its participation if the squad has a malfunction of police emergency equipment or radio communication.

No secondary squads involved

If the primary squad discontinues their participation under this section and there are no secondary squads involved, the pursuit is terminated.

Vehicular Pursuit Procedures

All department employees involved in a vehicular pursuit shall follow the procedures listed in this section.

All participating pursuit squads

Use lights and siren

Officers shall use department authorized emergency lights and siren in a continuous manner during any vehicular pursuit.

Notify dispatch of crashes

Officers shall immediately notify dispatch if a crash occurs as a result of the pursuit.

Notify dispatch of discontinuation

Officers shall notify dispatch via radio whenever they are discontinuing their participation, and shall confirm via radio the street they used to leave the pursuit route.

Acknowledge pursuit termination

Officers shall acknowledge via radio whenever the pursuit has been terminated, and shall confirm via radio the street they used to leave the pursuit route.

Role of officers in the primary pursuit squad

Notify dispatcher of pursuit information

Officers in the primary pursuit squad shall notify the dispatcher by radio of the location, speed, direction of travel, and reason for the pursuit.

Identify vehicle and occupants

Officers in the primary pursuit squad shall identify the vehicle and its occupants as completely as possible.

Call out updates

1. Officers in the primary pursuit squad shall call out the location and direction of travel of the pursued vehicle as frequently as possible.

2. If the primary pursuit squad is an Able squad with no passenger officer, a secondary pursuit squad may be designated to call out the updates.

Avoid removing vehicle occupants

Whenever reasonable, officers in the primary pursuit squad shall not physically remove the offender or passengers from the vehicle and should wait for the officers in a secondary pursuit squad to arrive and remove the offender or passengers.

Avoid transporting suspect

Officers in the primary pursuit squad shall not transport the arrested suspect unless authorized by the pursuit supervisor. The officers and pursuit supervisor shall document the authorization in the report.

Complete a report

All officers in the primary pursuit squad shall complete a Police Report with the code "FLEE" and all other necessary reports. The report shall contain:

• the initial reason for the stop
• when red lights and siren were activated
• evasive actions taken by the offender
• any injuries or property damage as a result of the pursuit
• the offenses for which the offender was arrested as a result of the pursuit
• the length of the pursuit in distance and time
• the outcome of the pursuit
• any tactical options utilized
• if the pursuit was terminated without an arrest, the reason the pursuit was terminated

Role of officers in the secondary pursuit squads

Notify dispatcher of involvement

Officers in the secondary pursuit squads shall notify the dispatcher by radio of their involvement in the pursuit.

Maintain reasonably safe distance

1. Officers in secondary pursuit squads shall maintain a reasonably safe distance from the primary squad.

2. At no time shall the secondary pursuit squad drive directly next to or pass the primary squad unless requested by the primary squad.
3. Officers should be alert to the fact that citizens will see the primary squad proceed, may assume that it is the only emergency vehicle in the area and may be unaware or inattentive to the second emergency vehicle, especially if it is far behind the primary squad.

Remove vehicle occupants

Officers in a secondary pursuit squad shall remove offenders and passengers from their vehicle when pursuit results in an apprehension, then transport them as necessary.

Complete a statement

All officers in secondary pursuit squads shall complete a statement in the pursuit report regarding their involvement in the pursuit.

Role of the pursuit supervisor

The pursuit supervisor’s role is to oversee the pursuit from a broader perspective than the officers involved in the pursuit.

Monitor the pursuit.

1. Whenever practical, the pursuit supervisor shall not be a participating squad in the pursuit.

1.    If another squad is available to take over in the pursuit, the pursuit supervisor shall discontinue their participation as an involved squad and maintain their role as the pursuit supervisor.

2.    If the pursuit supervisor is an involved squad and no other squads are available to take over, they shall request that another supervisor (at the rank of Sergeant or higher) assume the role of pursuit supervisor.

2. The pursuit supervisor shall exercise their authority and responsibility to decide whether to commit additional squads or to terminate the pursuit if they believe that the risk to the general public and officers outweighs the necessity to immediately arrest the suspect.
3. The pursuit supervisor should generally be an immediate supervisor of the pursuing officer, a precinct supervisor from where the pursuit began, an adjacent precinct supervisor, or the Watch Commander, however any supervisor at the rank of Sergeant or above can be requested to assume the role if necessary.

Acknowledge responsibility

The pursuit supervisor shall acknowledge responsibility of the pursuit over the radio.

Ensure a squad stops for crashes

When notified of a crash as a result of the pursuit, the pursuit supervisor shall ensure a squad stops immediately to check for injuries.

Respond to scene

The pursuit supervisor shall respond as soon as possible to the location where the pursuit ended or at the scene of a collision. If the pursuit is terminated with no apprehension, collision or injury, the pursuit supervisor does not have to respond to the scene.

Avoid occupant removal by officers in the primary pursuit squad

Wherever practical, pursuit supervisors shall not allow the offender or passengers to be removed from the vehicle by officers in the primary pursuit squad.

Avoid transport of suspect by primary pursuit squad

The arrested suspect(s) shall not be transported by the primary pursuit squad unless specifically authorized by the pursuit supervisor. The officers and pursuit supervisor shall document the authorization in the report.

Complete a statement

1. The pursuit supervisor shall complete a statement in the pursuit report regarding their involvement in the pursuit.
2. If the pursuit supervisor terminated the pursuit, the statement shall include the reasons and basis for termination.

Review the pursuit

1. The pursuit supervisor shall immediately review the pursuit for compliance with department policies and procedures.

2. A digital recording of the pursuit may be obtained from MECC by the pursuit supervisor. The request shall be made by emailing “911 Recording” via City of Minneapolis email.

Notify the Chief of injuries

The pursuit supervisor shall make a direct notification to the Chief by phone regarding any pursuit-related injuries.

Write a Pursuit Summary Memo

1. The pursuit supervisor shall complete a Pursuit Summary Memo, which shall include all of the following information:

• Date and time of the pursuit and the Case Control Number (CCN)
• Squad(s) involved in the pursuit
• Offense that led to the attempted stop
• General route of the pursuit, approximate distance covered and approximate speeds attained
• Description of the weather and road conditions
• Outcome of the pursuit including a description of any damage or injuries sustained as a result of the pursuit
• The reasons and basis for continuing or terminating the pursuit
• Statement as to whether department policies were followed during the pursuit
• Any other information deemed relevant

2. The Pursuit Summary Memo shall be emailed as an attachment to:

• The Pursuit Review Committee (Police - Pursuit Review Committee),
• The Deputy Chief of the Patrol Bureau, and
• Inspector(s) of the involved precinct(s).

Tactical Options and Use of Force in a Pursuit

Air support

Once contact is made with air support and air support has the suspect vehicle in sight, the primary squad shall change their role to a secondary squad, treating air support as the primary squad.

Roadblocks and intentional vehicle contact

1. A roadblock is when a marked squad is placed, either moving or stationary, in the roadway to narrow or block the escape route of a moving vehicle being pursued.
2. Roadblocks, rolling roadblocks and other intentional vehicle contact may be used only when deadly force is justified. (P&P 5-300).
3. Procedures for setting up roadblocks are as follows:

1. The pursuit supervisor’s approval shall be obtained to set up a roadblock. The pursuit supervisor may cancel a roadblock at any time.
2. Only marked squads shall be used.
3. The marked squads used to set up the roadblock shall be unoccupied. Officers from those vehicles shall be a safe distance away from the roadblock in case the pursued vehicle strikes a police vehicle.
4. Marked squads used in the roadblock shall have all emergency lighting activated. When possible, there shall also be a reasonable distance to allow the driver of the pursued vehicle to stop before striking a police vehicle.
5. The number of police vehicles used in a roadblock shall be limited to only those necessary to cause the offender to stop.

4. This policy is not intended to prohibit the strategic placement of squads on side streets, driveways, parking lots and alleys to eliminate potential escape routes and assist in controlling a pursuit. Supporting or responding officers shall use speeds and driving that do not present a danger to the public or to other officers.

Hostage-involved vehicular pursuit

1. If a vehicular pursuit involves a hostage, the safety of the hostage must be the primary consideration in determining the tactics that will be used during the pursuit.
2. As soon as the existence of a hostage is known that information shall be communicated to the pursuit supervisor.

Procedures After Apprehension or Vehicle Recovery

1. If an offender is apprehended:

1. Officers shall assess driving impairment and follow DUI protocol if probable cause exists.
2. Obtain statements from passengers and witnesses.
3. Complete an arrest report and all other necessary reports.

2. Whenever a pursuit vehicle is recovered or located, it shall be towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot and marked “Hold for Traffic - FLEE.”

Pursuit-Related Investigation and Review

1. Vehicle crashes shall be investigated according to the Accident Investigation Responsibility policy (P&P 7-502).
2. To ensure compliance with MN Statute, Traffic Investigation personnel shall complete the state pursuit report form and forward it to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) within 30 days following the incident.
3. The Pursuit Review Committee will review all pursuits involving MPD personnel and MPD vehicles.

Vehicle Pursuits into Minneapolis by Other Jurisdictions

1. In any pursuit, regardless of the initiating agency or jurisdiction, MPD officers shall observe existing MPD policies regarding pursuits.
2. If another agency involved in a pursuit enters the city limits, MPD officers shall not assist in the pursuit unless authorized by a supervisor.
3. If more than two squads from other agencies are involved in the pursuit, only one authorized MPD marked squad shall assist in the pursuit.
4. The initiating agency will be in charge of the arrest scene when they arrive.
5. The initiating agency retains the authority to terminate pursuit.
6. In the event vehicles from the initiating agency cannot continue, the pursuit supervisor may authorize MPD police officers to take responsibility for the pursuit if:

1. They are in position to do so.
2. The offender being pursued fits the MPD's pursuit policy.

7. Officers involved in another agency’s pursuit shall not leave the Minneapolis city limits unless authorized by the pursuit supervisor.

Vehicle Pursuits into Other Jurisdictions by MPD Squads

1. Prior authorization must be given over the air by the pursuit supervisor before a pursuit initiated by an MPD officer leaves the City limits. If authorization is not received before reaching the City limits, the officer shall terminate the pursuit.
2. A pursuit supervisor shall continue to monitor any out-of-city pursuit and respond to the scene when the pursuit has ended.
3. MECC is responsible for managing pursuit communications, which in some cases may be patched to an inter-op channel. When the pursuit is cross-patched with other agency communications all squads must precede their squad number with the word “Minneapolis.”
4. MPD officers have the authority to terminate pursuits out of the city of Minneapolis whenever an MPD marked squad is the primary pursuit squad.
5. If a vehicular pursuit results in a crash, the jurisdiction in which the crash occurs shall be responsible for the crash scene and the subsequent crash investigation.