The successful outcome of just about any type of scenario you encounter on the street is determined by a confluence of training, preparation, tactical execution, and luck. I don’t mean luck as a synonym for “chance” or “destiny” or “random happenstance.” I’m talking about the luck you make in the above-mentioned training, preparation, and tactical execution.
We’ve had a variety of tips and articles here on Police1 about foot pursuits, but during a discussion I recently had with an officer, it became clear to me that there’s really no “bad time” to have a refresher on the subject. These are but a handful of the considerations you need to keep in mind.
During a foot pursuit
- Get on the radio immediately and call for assistance, making sure to transmit as good a description of the suspect and their direction of travel as you possibly can.
- While you’re making that radio call, don’t hesitate to call in the cavalry if your department has got it — the K-9 is faster than you, and his teeth are much bigger!
- Assume the person you’re pursuing has a better working knowledge of the area than you do and will use that to their advantage, potentially lying in wait in an ambush.
- If you lose sight of the subject, use extreme caution, watching constantly for them to pop up on your flank or at your six.
- Remember that running with a firearm in your hand can significantly increase the chance of a negligent discharge.
- Never jump over walls or fences exactly where the suspect did, and make wide arcs around corners, “popping a peek” from an unexpected height whenever practical.
- Be aware of changing terrain — going from pavement to gravel or grass can severely affect your footing — as well as weather-related issues like puddles of standing water
- Backyards offer a wide variety of hazards, from vicious dogs to swimming pools to clotheslines to fixed objects like sprinkler heads, all of which can ruin your day.
- If for some reason your radio becomes inoperable or disconnected from your duty gear during the pursuit, it’s a very reasonable thing to discontinue the pursuit.
- Oh yeah, and did I mention: Never jump over walls or fences exactly where the suspect did!
One last thought
Fight against tunnel vision and auditory exclusion! It can be a natural tendency to be laser-focused on a fleeing suspect during a foot pursuit and lose virtually all visual and auditory awareness of your surroundings — in fact, to a certain extent it’s a physiological reality we can do very little to stop. So, in a foot pursuit, make a conscious effort to stay alert for things like oncoming vehicles — including trains if you’re crossing tracks! — people backing out of parking spots.
Remember, foot pursuits are dangerous and potentially deadly, so think ahead about what you will do once the chase is on, and keep your head on a swivel once you’re underway.
