Foot Pursuit Tactics, pg. 5
OBJECTIVES
Interactive Firearms Training
Foot Pursuit & Post-Shooting Tactics
TIME ALLOTTED: 4 hours
DATE PREPARED: 12-04-01
______
SYNOPSIS: The trainees will be instructed on how to safely handle foot pursuits.
OBJECTIVES:
The trainee will be able to:
1. List at least two three of the threats commonly associated with foot pursuits.
2. List at least three measures an officer should use to more safely conduct a foot pursuit.
3. List the three measures an officer should use to more safely negotiate turns during a foot pursuit.
4. List the three measures an officer should use to more safely apprehend a fleeing suspect by use of physical force.
5. List the three measures an officer should use to more safely
apprehend a fleeing suspect who stops and surrenders.
6. List at least three of the main principles related to the handling of a wounded suspect.
7. List at least five of the specific steps for handling a wounded suspect.
8. List at least six of the steps to be used by the backup officer when handling a wounded suspect.
Hazelwood Police Department
Interactive Firearms Training
Foot Pursuit & Post-Shooting Tactics
I. Introduction
A. Purpose of training: to train officers to more safely handle foot pursuits.
B. Preview of objectives
II. Pre-Discussion Interactive Firearms Scenarios
III. Threats associated with foot pursuits
A. Once you loose sight of the suspect, you are going into an area that he – not you – controls. This violates one of the basic principles of officer safety.
B. He knows where you are, but you do not know where he is or what he is doing.
C. Corners and hiding places create great opportunities for him to set up an ambush.
D. Anything that injures or disables you, even for a short period of time, can be used for him to disarm you, follow with a more dangerous attack, or escape.
E. Never run past a vehicle that has been abandoned by a fleeing suspect.
1. Even if apparently unoccupied, it may contain additional suspects
2. “A bird in the hand…
3. The vehicle may be, or contain valuable evidence that can be lost if you do not seize it immediately.
F. Stopping the suspect creates serious hazards:
1. Requires intense struggle after intense physical exertion.
2. He can go for a weapon during the struggle.
3. If you tackle the suspect below the waist, it gives him an excellent chance to draw and use a weapon
IV. Safety Measures
A. Conducting the pursuit
1. Know your patrol area. This enables you to be aware of possible hazards (e.g., hard-to-see obstacles, ditches, etc.) and potential hiding places, etc.
2. Chase to shadow the suspect, not to catch him, and call for assistance to apprehend him.
3. Consider backing off, securing the area, and calling for canine, especially if you loose sight of the suspect.
4. Stay offset to the left of the suspect. Most people are right-handed, and it is harder for a right-handed person to turn and fire to his left while running than to turn and fire to his right.
B. Negotiating corners safely
1. Listen before starting into the turn
2. Swing wide away from the corner
3. Whenever possible, head for an item of cover as your round the corner.
C. If you choose to use physical force to stop and apprehend the suspect, avoid tackling him around the legs:
1. Hit him high
2. Grab him around the torso and pin his arms to his sides
3. Check his hands before trying to handcuff him
D. If he surrenders, do not approach him alone. Instead:
1. Take cover
2. Order him into a prone or other secure search position
3. Wait for backup
4. One officer should cover the suspect while the other approaches
5. Keep in mind that many suspects are aware of the sound made when a weapon is holstered, and they may wait to hear it before initiating an attack.
V. Post-Shooting Tactics: If deadly force is used against the suspect, he may still be dangerous. It is important to use proper tactics in order to safely take him into custody.
A. Main Principles
1. Ignore injuries
2. Continually scan for danger
a. Further attack from suspect
b. Peripheral threats
3. Take appropriate action against any additional threats that may present themselves
4. Assist officer should approach suspect and take him into custody
B. Specific steps for handling downed suspects. Do not attempt to secure the suspect alone, because you will probably be under too much stress to react with maximum proficiency if attacked.
1. Withdraw/seek cover
2. Order suspect into a proper prone position whenever possible
3. Secure suspect’s weapon if the risk of leaving it where it is outweighs the risk you must take to secure it
4. Reload
5. Call for assistance, ambulance, supervisor
6. Direct responding units
7. Administer self first aid, but continue to scan
8. Cover suspect or, preferably, withdraw when assistance arrives
9. Let assist officers approach suspect
C. Proper utilization of backup officer when taking suspect into custody.
1. Order suspect to turn his face away from the direction of the contact officer’s approach.
2. If lighting is poor, illuminate the suspect, preferably aiming the light source from a position of cover at his/her face to distract and “blind” him/her.
3. Cover officer should hold his/her firearm in a low ready position, at the lowest possible position that allows for a quick shot if needed:
a. Improves cover officer’s view of suspect, and especially his/her hands.
b. Minimizes likelihood of striking contact officer in a vital spot if he/she is accidentally struck by one of the contact officer’s rounds
c. When the suspect is prone on a solid surface, shots that land in front of him/her will ordinarily ricochet parallel to the surface, thereby striking their intended target. By contrast, shots that go high are likely to miss, and may jeopardize the safety of the contact officer.
4. Contact officer’s weapon must be holstered and secured prior to making contact with the suspect to minimize the possibility of a disarming attempt.
5. Contact officer should wear protective gloves to reduce the threat of contamination from suspect’s body fluids.
6. Contact officer should approach at an angle that keeps him/her out of the cover officer’s line of fire.
7. Cuff quickly, starting with the right hand unless the suspect is known to be left-handed.
8. Be wary of suspects whose hands are under their body:
a. Make sure the hands are in view BEFORE approaching the suspect
b. If the suspect is does not respond to commands to expose his/her hands, the contact officer should pin the suspect’s hands in place by kneeling on the his/her back, then reach underneath to feel for weapons.
9. If the suspect produces a weapon after the contact officer is within contact range, the contact officer’s best option is usually to grab or deflect the weapon, then follow up with a disarming technique or deadly force.
VI. Post-Discussion Interactive Firearms Scenarios
A. Role-play exercises
B. Critique of exercises