POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Subject / Date / Section No. / Page No.
Use of Emergency Vehicular / 602 / 6
Warning Devices

I. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the use of emergency vehicle warning devices.

II. Policy

It is the purpose of this policy to ensure that all members of the agency adhere to statutory restrictions on the use of emergency warning devices and that such devices are employed only in prescribed conditions and circumstances and in ways that will minimize the risk of accidents or injuries to employees or the public.

III. Definitions

Emergency - A sudden or unexpected occurrence involving an imminent threat to human life or immediate potential for substantial property damage under conditions requiring immediate response to curtail imminent harm to human life or to reduce the seriousness of the situation.

Emergency Vehicle - An authorized emergency vehicle, per 56-5-170 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, equipped with emergency lights, siren, and other emergency warning devices which may be required by law and used for emergency response situations.

Emergency Warning Devices - Devices placed in/on each agency authorized emergency vehicle that emit audible or visual signals in order to warn others that emergency services are in the process of being delivered.

Agency Personnel (for purposes of this policy) - All persons affiliated with the Agency, such as sworn officers, who respond to emergencies.

IV. Procedures

A. Response modes shall be designated as follows (subject to the training provisions of Section F. hereof):

1. Priority code One -- Routine

a.  Type of calls: Routine reports, information minor investigations, etc.

b.  Response level: All posted speed limits and traffic control devices will be complied with. No use of emergency equipment is authorized.

c.  Road Conditions / Inclement weather: Extreme caution must be used anytime the county vehicle is operated on hazardous (dirt, winding) roads. Also inclement weather (rainy, icy, nighttime conditions.

2. Priority code Two -- Urgent

a.  Type of calls: Disturbances, Prowlers, Suspicious persons/vehicles, etc.

b.  Response level: Reasonable speeds above the posted limit is permitted with the use of the blue lights + siren. Red lights and other traffic control devices may be disregarded after the responding officer has first come to a complete stop, and ascertained the certainty of safe passage.

3. Priority code Three -- Emergency

a.  Type of calls: Violent crimes in progress and officer in need of help or assistance involving a serious threat to life/safety.

b. Response level: Speeds necessary to accomplish the police mission are permitted, with due regard for safety. Full use of blue lights and siren is required. "Rolling Stops" at traffic control devices are permitted, after the responding officer has first determined that safe passage is possible,

4. Priority code Two Responses is emergency response wherein a complete stop must be made at all red lights and stop signs before continuing on through a intersection.

If traffic traveling at lateral or diagonal directions have the right of way the right of way is to be yielded to this traffic unless visually seen as having been surrendered to the police vehicle.

Blue lights and siren are most effective at assisting police vehicles in moving traffic and pedestrians from the forward roadway areas; preventing turns by opposing vehicles and pedestrians and preventing vehicles in rear roadway, areas from overtaking the police vehicle.

Blue lights and sirens are least effective in controlling or alerting traffic coming from lateral or diagonal directions at intersections. Most police-accidents occur at intersections and involve traffic approaching from the lateral and diagonal direction.

5. Priority code three responses to calls for police service is justified only by a reported or perceived situation involving:

a.  A strong possibility of injury or death.

b.  An assault or violent felony in progress, or committed so recently that the suspect is likely to be in the vicinity of the crime, and the opportunity for apprehension is great.

Emergency driving conditions are also authorized when in pursuit of a known felony suspect or in-response to a call for assistance from another police officer who is in physical jeopardy.

6. Based on the above guidelines, officers may, in the furtherance of public safety, operate a police unit in priority three status when initially responding to the following calls:

a.  Homicide

b.  Rape in progress

c.  Assault in progress

d.  Robberies in progress

e.  Officers in trouble

f.  Pursuit of known felony suspects

g. Burglaries in progress with the victim still within the dwelling and the suspect attempting to gain entry.

7. PURSUIT OF TRAFFIC OFFENDERS: High speed pursuits for traffic offenders are inherently dangerous. NO OFFICER WILL PURSUE A TRAFFIC VIOLATOR IN THE PRIORITY THREE RESPONSE AT ANY TIME, however, if the officer has probable cause that a felony has been committed the officer will use all regards to safety in the apprehension of the suspect.

B. Assigning/Determining Response Modes to Calls for Assistance

1. Communications personnel and/or field supervisors are responsible

for assigning Department personnel to respond to calls for assistance.

2. Upon receiving a call for assistance, responding Department

personnel shall notify communications personnel and/or a field

supervisor when a response mode other than code one will be utilized.

3. Field supervisors and/or the duty command staff officer are

responsible for monitoring response modes for calls for assistance and

shall have the authority to upgrade or downgrade assigned response

modes.

4. In instances where Department Personnel wish to initiate the

emergency vehicular response mode because of a sudden occurrence

unbeknown to communications personnel or shift supervision, or to

upgrade a routine response assignment, the involved field unit shall

inform communications personnel as soon as possible of:

a. The nature of the situation,

b. The location and destination of the unit, and

c. The response mode to be utilized.

C. Use of Emergency Warning Devices while in Emergency Response Mode

1. During an emergency response, emergency lights and/or siren and other emergency signal devices shall be activated as required by statutory law. The blue emergency warning lights must be seen from all directions (360 degrees) during an emergency response.

2. When responding in the emergency mode, the headlights of the emergency vehicle shall be activated to augment the emergency vehicle’s visibility.

3. During an emergency response, four-way flashers shall NOT be used when the emergency vehicle is in motion because they will interfere with brake lights and turn signals.

4. The spotlight is primarily utilized to facilitate building and stationary vehicle checks and shall at no time be directed at the windshield or vision of oncoming traffic.

5. When responding in an emergency response mode, emergency signal devices may be deactivated at a distance from the scene (to be determined by the vehicle operator) so as to not alert possible suspects, as permitted by 56-5-760, Code of Laws of South Carolina.

6. Agency personnel engaged in emergency response shall at all times drive in a manner exercising due regard for the safety of themselves and all other persons within the response area.

D. Use of Emergency Warning Devices while Conducting Vehicle Stops

Audible and/or visible warning devices shall be used to give adequate notice of intent to stop a motor vehicle and to provide a safe environment for the vehicle operator, deputies, and the public.

E. Discretionary Use of Emergency Warning Devices

1. Agency personnel may activate emergency signal devices when required to assist in handling any perceived emergency situation advising communications personnel of the nature of the emergency.

2. In other than emergency situations, when expediency is required to effectively eliminate a potential hazard to the public or emergency personnel, agency personnel may activate emergency warning devices to allow orderly and safe transit through heavily congested roadways. Examples of permissible uses of emergency warning devices during non-emergency response situations include, but are not limited to:

a. Using emergency lights as “beacons” to protect disabled motorists; or

b. Using emergency lights when it is necessary to use agency vehicles as protective barriers.

3. Operators of emergency vehicles shall deactivate emergency warning devices as soon as possible.

F. Training

1. All sworn officers of the agency shall successfully complete a course of instruction relating to emergency response operation of law enforcement emergency vehicles, as prescribed by state law or regulations.

2. All non-sworn members of the agency are not authorized to respond to emergency incidents in a code two or three response mode.

______

Adell Dobey, Sheriff

V. Documentation