Issue link: http://lawandordermag.epubxp.com/i/189636
Commander McCown stressed the importance of monitoring offcer behavior in such situations, recognizing their substantial risk management implications and that law enforcement executives have a vested interest in both injury prevention and liability management. Agencies should develop policies and training to standardize tactics proven to be effective in these regards. Offcers and supervisors should be required to evaluate the totality of circumstances when deciding to pursue, and to recognize that some chases are not worth the risks that they create—as they would in vehicular pursuit decision-making. They should be trained to consider potential risks such as weapons, communications, weather, unfamiliarity with the area, physical ftness levels, availability of backup, and seriousness of the suspected crime. Guidelines should also be created that defne situations when offcers should not initiate or continue foot pursuits, such as when an offcer loses his/her frearm, is unsure of his/ her location, gets injured, or loses radio communications. Consideration should be given to limiting any extensive foot pursuit activity to the apprehension of serious criminals. Tactical considerations should be outlined advising offcers to contain rather than pursue into confned spaces, remain aware of ambush situations, follow in the suspect's steps, and recognize that the suspect can turn and become a threat at any time. All this should be reinforced through recurrent training. Supervisors must recognize their role as well, monitoring feld performance and reviewing pursuits to ensure that they are within policy. Managers must evaluate offcer judgment in regard to safety and provide necessary review and remedial training for identifed concerns. Supervisors and managers should be charged with responsibility for supervising pursuits, as they would be in vehicular pursuits, terminating those where the danger to the offcers or public outweighs the need for immediate apprehension of the suspect. Required reporting of foot pursuits and tracking of such incidents and their outcomes will help to identify agency trends and appropriately corresponding risk management initiatives. Risk-reward ratios should be examined. Agencies should look at existing policies from other jurisdictions and develop an approach that will be most effective in their department based on agency size, jurisdictional demographics, organizational culture, and existing training. Better strategy in this area will heighten offcer and public safety and reduce loss in both workers' compensation claims and civil lawsuits. LaO Post your comments on this story by visiting www.lawandordermag.com You've just gotta see it to believe it. But even then, you may still need to pinch yourself when you see how much room Pro‑gard gives you. You won't have to compromise space in any area of the vehicle. There's plenty of room for the driver and prisoner transports plus, all your duty gear and weapons! Pro‑gard is committed to exceeding your expectations by designing the strongest, most reliable and secure products on the road. We are confdent that once you've experienced the dedication we build into our product lines, like so many other feets -- you'll turn to Pro-gard. Your officers need space and Pro‑gard offers many solutions for that.Visit our web site or ontact our customer service department for information about how we generate space in other police package vehicles too. Seeing is believing. 800.480.6680 / sales@pro-gard.com / www.pro-gard.com STrong Click on EInfo at - www.lawandordermag.com reader service #11 | reliable | Secure Visit Us at IACP 2013 Booth #2249