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High Speed Vehicle Pursuit Liability
Length of Seminar:
1 Days
Instructor: Jack
Ryan
Course Overview:
This course focuses on the legal and liability issues associated
with the high-risk critical task of vehicle pursuit. Pursuits
are broken down into three categories from the standpoint
of liability, specifically state law claims, federal claims
alleging an unreasonable seizure and federal claims alleging
a violation of substantive due process. The conduct of police
officers in conducting a pursuit determines the viability
of any of the claims a plaintiff may bring.
As with any other law enforcement operation,
the risk of a lawsuit can be avoided; diminished; or, at
the very least, controlled by policy and training. With
proper policy and training the performance of officers in
conducting pursuits may be brought into conformity with
existing legal mandates.
The course identifies a use of force continuum
associated with pursuits. Tactics such as the PIT maneuver,
roadblocks, ramming, blocking and discharging of firearms
are reviewed to determine when legal principles would justify
the particular use of force during a pursuit.
The course reviews trends in state tort actions
resulting from vehicle pursuits to identify potential liability
gaps that agencies may incur as the result of officer conduct
or deficiencies in policy and training.
The course concludes with a review of model
policies and best police practice with respect to pursuits.
Participants are encouraged to review their own policies
and training to determine whether their existing policy
and training are up to the generally accepted standards
in law enforcement.
As a result of attending this training module,
participants will be able to:
- Recognize 3 areas of Pursuit Liability.
- Identify key pursuit conduct indicators
deemed historically significant by the courts.
- Identify and understand the use of force
continuum as applied to pursuit.
- Identity various tactics utilized during
pursuit including: the PIT maneuver, roadblocks, ramming,
blocking and
discharging of firearms.
- Identify trends in state tort actions resulting
from vehicle pursuits.
- Conduct successful review of the current
policies based on national model policies and best
police practices.
- Develop proper policy and training standards
in the areas of pursuit.
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