HomeMy WebLinkAboutPolice Inter Jurisdictional Pursuits MOUMEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
INTER JURISDICTIONAL PURSUIT'S BENTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTI�S I FEB O 4 2015
The parties of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are the Chiefs and Sheriffs f kenton and
Franklin Counties and Cities of Connell, Kennewick, Pasco, Prosser, Richland and West Richl
Purpose: This Inter -jurisdictional Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is intended to e'sG�
operational guidelines for pursuits which cross jurisdictional boundaries within Benton and Franklin
Counties. These guidelines are fundamental in a coordinated multi -jurisdictional effort required during
the pursuit of a dangerous offender. This MOU is not intended to detract or intrude upon an agency's
right to establish policy within their own organization. This MOU is intended to enhance and apply
consistency when pursuits occur involving two or more jurisdictions and to provide a standard response
by participating agency personnel.
Definitions:
Vehicle Pursuit — is an event involving one or more law enforcement officers attempting to
apprehend a suspect who is attempting to avoid apprehension while operating a motor vehicle
by using high speed driving or other evasion tactics such as driving off a highway, turning suddenly
or driving in a legal manner but willfully failing to yield to an officer's signal to stop.
Attempting to Elude — refers to the actions of any driver of a motor vehicle who willfully fails or
refuses to immediately bring his or her vehicle to a stop and who drives his or her vehicle in a
reckless manner while attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, after being given a visual or
audible signal to bring the vehicle to a stop (RCW 46.61.024).
Emergency Vehicle - addition to any other equipment and distinctive marking required by this
chapter, be equipped with at least one lamp capable of displaying a red light visible from at least
five hundred feet in normal sunlight and a siren capable of giving an audible signal (RCW
46.27.190).
Inter -jurisdictional Guidelines: The decision to pursue into another jurisdiction bythe originating
agency shall not obligate the jurisdiction to participate or endorse the participating agency's actions,
methods or outcome. No agency will be criticized for non -participation in a pursuit which enters its
jurisdiction.
Communications — the ability of an officer engaged in an offender / violator contact to
communicate quickly, clearly and concisely report detailed information to the dispatcher is
important for officer safety and efficient deployment of resources to assist. This communication
becomes critical when the purpose is to report a suspect who is fleeing apprehension. The
primary means for communicating pertinent information to an ongoing pursuit is the radio. Use
of cell phone, MDT and TAC channel for exchange of pursuit involved officers should be avoided
to ensure concentration and focus on the priority issues related to pursuit driving.
Pursuing Unit Responsibilities - During the course of any pursuit the number of units to be
involved and the individual officers role must be defined. No more than two units shall be actively
engaged in a pursuit. One supervisor may be either engaged or trailing for the purpose of
maintaining oversight and supervision for the overall situation. The Primary and Secondary units
have distinct roles in incidents of this type.
Primary Unit— has the primary responsibility to Notify Dispatch that a vehicle pursuit has
been initiated and as soon as practical provide information including, but not limited to:
1 as7)>
(a) Reason for the pursuit.
(b) Location and direction of travel.
(c) Speed of the fleeing vehicle.
(d) Description of the fleeing vehicle and license number, if know.
(e) Number of know occupants
(f) The identity or description of the known occupants.
(g) Information concerning the use of firearms, threat of force, injury, hostages
or other unusual hazards.
The primary unit is responsible to broadcast this information, providing frequent
pertinent updates. The primary officer will relinquish the broadcasting responsibility
when relieved by a Secondary unit or supervisor.
Secondary Unit— is responsible for;
(a) The officer is secondary position should immediately notify the dispatcher of
entry into the pursuit.
(b) Maintain a safe distance behind the primary unit unless directed to assume
the role as primary.
(c) Be responsible for broadcasting the pursuit.
Supervisor - An originating agency supervisor should monitor any pursuit entering
another jurisdiction. The supervisor should insure compliance with provisions of this
agreement and the parent agency policy.
Risk Assessment— Inherent in any pursuit is increased risk of vehicle collision for suspect, officer
and the public. RCW 46.61.035—Authorized emergency vehicles states;
(2) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may:
(a) Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter;
(b) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as
may be necessary for safe operations;
(c) Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as he or she does not endanger life
or property;
(d) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in
specified directions.
It is the duty of the primary officer and the supervisor to conduct an ongoing assessment of
the risks, potential risks in the conduct of a pursuit and make an appropriate determination if
a pursuit should be terminated. Certain key points of risk should be considered by the officer
and supervisor;
1. Does the seriousness of the crime justify a pursuit?
2. What is the possibility/ likelihood of apprehension?
3. The pursuit take place on residential streets, business districts or freeway?
4. The speeds of the suspect and pursuing vehicles?
S. The weather and road conditions (e.g. snow, ice, wet, visibility, construction)?
6. Is this daytime, nighttime lighted roadway or country road?
7. What are the skills of the officers engaged in the pursuit?
Should the supervisor or primary officer consider the hazards to outweigh the potential benefits
of continuing a pursuit then the pursuit should be terminated.
Custody and Care of Prisoners — the originating pursuit agency will assume custody and care of
suspect(s) based on the agencies original probable cause for the offense or crime which initiated
the pursuit. Additional criminal offenses committed in assisting jurisdictions will be investigated
by the agency, where the offenses occurred and referred to the appropriate jurisdictional
prosecutor for review.
Nothing in this MOU prevents individual agencies from adopting a more restrictive policy.
The undersigned parties agree to adopt the above guidelines for vehicle pursuits across jurisdictional
line of Benton and Franklin Counties and the cities therein.
Approved this rday of ' 2015."^
/ 7
Sheriff Steve Keane, Benton County Chief Chris Skinner, Rich and Police Department
t
riff Am Ray d ranklin County Chief Brian Mc y, West Richland Police Dept.
-M•
Chief Ken Hohenberg, Kennewick Police Dept. Chief Chris Turner, Connell Police Department
Z�1� _
n
Chief Dave Giles, Prosser Police Department Chief Bob Metzger, Pasco