Dallas Police Department

Pursuit Overview
Public Safety Committee
September 7, 2010
 Implementation of Current Policy
• In 2005, retired Chief David Kunkle requested a
review of departmental pursuit policy
• The panel’s review included:
– Other agencies’ policies
– Available research in the field of police pursuits
– International Association of Chief’s of Police and the
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement
Agencies recommended pursuit model policies
– Focus groups among departmental personnel
• Almost 100% opposition
• Believed crime would sky rocket
• Almost universally placed capturing a suspect above safety
concerns

2
 Implementation of Current Policy
• The most important consideration in the implementation
of the current policy was SAFETY – for the public and
officers
• Nationally, about 1 in 100 pursuits end in a fatality
• DPD had 361 reported pursuits in 2004
– 32% for traffic violations
– About 1 in 4 ended in a crash
– 87 officers, citizens or suspects were injured or died
– 2 citizens were killed in crashes
• DPD had 354 Pursuits in 2005
– 38% for traffic violations
– Approximately 1 in 4 pursuits ended in a crash
– 98 officers, citizens or suspects were injured or died
– 2 citizens and 2 suspects were killed in crashes
3
 DPD Pursuit Policy Overview
• Current policy was implemented on June 8, 2006
• Philosophy Statement
– General Order 906.01 B., states “protection of human life is a
primary goal of the police department;
– therefore, police officers have a responsibility to use only the
degree of force necessary to protect and preserve life.”
– Initiating or participating in a vehicular pursuit presents a danger
to the officers involved, the suspect, and the general public.
– Accordingly, the decision to initiate a pursuit must be based on
the pursuing officer’s conclusion that the immediate danger to
the officer, public and suspect created by the pursuit is less than
the immediate or potential danger to the public should the
suspect remain at large.

4
 DPD Pursuit Policy Overview
• Definition:
– A Pursuit is defined as an active attempt by
an officer in an authorized emergency vehicle
to apprehend a fleeing suspect in a motor
vehicle who is attempting to elude the officer.
A suspect is considered to be fleeing upon
making any overt action intended to avoid
arrest.

5
 DPD Pursuit Policy Overview
• Pursuit Initiation Criteria
– The decision to pursue must be based on facts and
circumstances known to the officer
– Pursuit risk factors must be considered
• Road, weather and environmental conditions
• Population density, vehicle and pedestrian traffic
• Relative performance capabilities of emergency and suspect
vehicles
• Seriousness of offense
• Presence of other persons in police vehicle
• Age of offender
• Whether or not offenders identity is known
• Any circumstance under which pursuing officer will be unable
to maintain control of the emergency vehicle

6
 DPD Pursuit Policy Overview
• Pursuit Initiation Criteria (cont.)
– When officer has probable cause to believe
that a felony involving the use or threat of
physical force or violence has been, or is
about to be, committed, and the officer
reasonably believes that the immediate need
to apprehend the offender outweighs the risk
to any person of collision, injury or death

7
 DPD Pursuit Policy Overview
• Prohibited Practices
– Roadblocks
– Attempting to force the vehicle from the roadway by
driving alongside or in front of the fleeing vehicle
– Bumping or ramming the fleeing vehicle
– Discharging weapons at a moving vehicle unless
occupant is using or attempting to use deadly force
on officer or other person
– Pursuing the wrong way on a roadway
– Following so closely that adequate reaction and
braking time is insufficient to prevent collision with
any leading vehicle

8
 Success of Current Policy

DPD Pursuits 2004 - 2010 YTD Injuries/Deaths From Pursuits

2004 - 2010 YTD
400 120
361 354
350 98
100
87
300
80
250
200 54
200 60
150
40
100 21
70 39 17
31 24 20
50 8
3
0 0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010*

No innocent 3rd party citizens have been reported killed during a DPD
pursuit since the implementation of the current policy
9
*Year to date
 Success of Current Policy
Officers and Citizens Injured in Pursuits
2004-2010
25
Officers
21
Citizens
19
20

15 13 12
11
10
7 7

5
2 3 3
1 1
0 0
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 10
 Success of Current Policy
26% Reduction in Total Crime 2004-2009
24% Reduction in Property Crime 2004-2009

Dallas Total and Property Crime 2004-2009

120,000
110,231 Total Crimes
110,000 104,357
100,650
Property Crimes
97,210
100,000 94,066
88,928 85,592 87,179
90,000 83,962
81,585
75,759
80,000
71,364
70,000

60,000

50,000
40,000
30,000

20,000
11
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
 Love Field Pursuit
August 19, 2010
• 2:25 PM - North Central undercover officer observes
suspect driving through apartments 5900 Arapaho
– Registration reveals vehicle stolen from Fort Worth in an
Aggravated Robbery

• 2:28 PM - Helicopter requested from the hanger

• 2:32 PM - Marked elements attempt felony traffic stop at
5700 Spring Valley
– Suspect flees and vehicle chase is initiated

• 2:33PM - Controlling supervisor authorizes 3 elements in

the chase until he can catch up.
• 2:41 PM - Helicopter arrives at chase location
12
 Love Field Pursuit
• 2:42 PM - Suspect strikes curb at Greenville and Forest
which causes right rear tire to flatten
– Speed of vehicle slows, but pursuit continues
• 3:00 PM - Suspect is northbound Central Expressway
service road just south of Mockingbird
– Due to heavy traffic, suspect vehicle stops briefly against the
concrete wall then maneuvers around the traffic and continues
• 3:02PM - Canine element is requested to assist in case
suspect flees on foot
• 3:04 PM - Controlling supervisor authorizes additional
element to follow behind the pursuit to assist with traffic
control

13
Dash Camera Views

14
 Love Field Pursuit
• 3:04 - 3:15 PM – Suspect takes a series of
streets that lead him from southbound
Central Expressway to the intersection of
Harry Hines Blvd. and Mockingbird Ln.
– Officers note that suspects flattened tire is
sparking
– Officers report that suspect appears to be
talking and pointing at people as if he’s
amused with the situation
– Suspects speed remains around 20 -30 mph
15
 Love Field Pursuit
• 3:15 PM - Helicopter announces that there is heavy
traffic as the suspect turns eastbound on Mockingbird
from Harry Hines
– Suspect vehicle has difficulty proceeding up incline in road and
slows to approximately 3mph
– Suspect continues eastbound on Mockingbird

• 3:16 PM – Helicopter is in contact with FAA Tower at

Love Field
• 3:18 PM- Suspect turns from Mockingbird onto Cedar
Springs at the entrance to Love Field
– Helicopter requests Love Field officers be notified
– Field Service Division Deputy Chief contacts Love Field officers
by telephone

16
 Love Field Pursuit
• 3:19 PM – SWAT elements arrive at pursuit
location to assist in case of barricaded person
situation
• 3:20 PM- Suspect turns into parking lot then
proceeds to drive through fence
• 3:22 PM- Helicopter announces that the suspect
is traveling towards aircraft at end of runway
– Supervisor authorizes deadly force to terminate
pursuit
17
 Love Field Pursuit
• 3:23 PM- Suspect vehicle is forced off the
taxiway into grassy area
– Suspect continues in direction of larger aircraft
– Marked element intentionally collides with suspect
vehicle in attempt to stop his progress

• 3:24 PM- Suspect is taken into custody

– No officer or citizen injuries
– Minimal property damage

18
 Tire Deflation Device Attempts
• Mockingbird Ln. at Central Expressway
– Suspect turned before reaching location
• Mockingbird Ln. east of Harry Hines
– Suspect drove around device
• Mockingbird Ln. at Cedar Springs
– Suspect turned prior to reaching device
• Love Field Main Exit
– Suspect never drove back out of Love Field
19
 Initial Criminal Charges
• Aggravated Robbery
• Evading Arrest
• Criminal Mischief
• Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle
• 4 additional robbery charges have been
added by DPD and 3 by Ft. Worth PD

20
 Further Considerations
• DPD Command Staff and Senior Staff members
of the Aviation Department are developing a
stronger, more efficient communication protocol
for developing incidents near the Love Field
area
• DPD studying the implementation of a practice
to be followed when significant incidents develop
near a critical location
• Pursuit fell within DPD guidelines
• Pursuit concluded with no injury and minimal
property damage
21
Questions?

22