It is a cop’s job to catch bad guys. Therefore, when the bad guys run, the cops give chase. Unfortunately, all too often, officers are lured into jeopardy and sometimes don’t realize it until it is too late. Take a look at some of the headlines over the last couple of years:
• Philadelphia Officer Killed in Foot Pursuit
• CA Officer Shot and Killed during Foot Pursuit
• PA K-9 Officer Shot and Killed during Foot Pursuit
In January 2011, my department lost one of our finest officers (Officer Larry Nehasil) while involved in a foot pursuit of a home invasion suspect who had stolen a 45 caliber handgun from a residence and used it against Officer Nehasil as he caught up to him.
Foot pursuits are inherently dangerous and should be guided by tactics rather than our impulse to catch the bad guys. Often, as with vehicle pursuits, we let our emotions take over and guide our actions. Maybe it is our character, or sense of duty, or that we are just plain curious when a suspect decides to flee from us. Our predator instinct kicks in and we see the suspects as the prey or quarry to be over-taken and subdued. We must rethink our traditional responses and find a way to capture fleeing suspects in a manner that affords us greater opportunities to gain tactical advantages over those we seek to apprehend.
Before we discuss some possible tactics to employ while conducting a foot pursuit, let’s discuss some variables that must be considered before we initiate the pursuit in the first place.
1. Why is the suspect fleeing?
Do you know why the suspect is fleeing from you? Has a crime been committed and what is the severity of the charges? Is the suspect more committed to getting away then you are at apprehending them? Is it prudent for you to continue the pursuit, or should you await back-up? Would you chase a known armed robbery suspect into a vacant building alone? What about a wooded area, or even a back yard? These are considerations you may wish to consider while you have a clear head and are thinking with your forebrain (reason) and not your mid-brain (instinct).
Don’t push forward into the wilderness without a map in your pocket. This isn’t to say we should shy away from everyone who flees on foot, rather that we should not make false assumptions and place all foot pursuits into one narrow response: Pursue and apprehend to the exclusion of all risks.
2. Who is the suspect?
Do we know who the suspect is: Name, address, associates, criminal history, propensity for violence, etc., can we fry this fish on a different day and under more favorable conditions? Do we know why they are running? Is the suspect fleeing from a known crime and do we know if they were armed? What is the physicality of the suspect in relation to your own physical capabilities? These are some of the questions we want running through our mind while we ponder the prospect of pursuing, or continuing in the foot pursuit.
3. Who are you?
If you do catch up with this individual, you will generally have three options of engagement; verbally, physically, or by fire (lethal or otherwise), or a combination thereof. What is your physical condition? What are the chances of you catching the perpetrator and if you do, are you capable of engaging in a physical confrontation? Have you participated in and are you familiar with subject control techniques, less lethal options, or the ability to engage with lethal force? Have you considered these options in your head and mentally rehearsed them prior to your current engagement? Foot pursuits may be drawn out engagements or over within a matter of seconds. Know your options and be prepared to incorporate each and every one of them mentally, physically and with the equipment you carry on your person.
4. Where are we?
It is imperative that you not only you keep track of your location, but it is also important to consider the surroundings in which the pursuit is taking place. Hazards are abound and include; traffic, barriers, dogs, clothes lines, poor lighting conditions, foliage, water hazards, homeowners, communities adverse to law enforcement, pot holes, changes in ground elevation, obstacles, etc. This summer an officer from Michigan was engaged in a foot pursuit and became impaled on a branch. Continually evaluate your surroundings and terrain and assess whether or not it is wise to continue with your current course of action.
Guided by Tactics
Now that we have discussed some of the more pertinent considerations and you have time to contemplate your next foot pursuit, let’s also discuss some general tactics to employ should you decide to take on the next individual who chooses to flee from you.
1.) The Latin phrase, ‘praemonitus, praemunitus’ means, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Pay attention to the warning signs: Eyeballing the area, rocking back and forth, stretching, obviously nervous and any other indicators that lead you to believe the individual is contemplating a departure.
2.) End the pursuit before it begins by taking control of the individual and securing them in your patrol unit, handcuffing, or by placing them in a position that makes it difficult for them to move quickly and maintaining a position of dominance over them, whichever is reasonable for the situation.
3.) If they do get the jump on you before you have the opportunity to gain an advantage, try to end it as soon as possible, the longer it persist the longer the suspect has to formulate plans.
4.) Get on the radio and broadcast: location, direction, description and any other relevant information. Update as necessary to increase your odds if it turns into a team apprehension.
5.) Do not follow the same path as the suspect. If the suspect jumps a wall, approach it at another point. Look before you leap. Officers have followed suspects off of bridges and overpasses because they were so locked into the “catch instinct” and it was too late by the time they realized their mistake. Suspects who are familiar with the area may lead officers into hazards that are unbeknownst to the officers.
6.) If you catch up with the suspect, the “knock down” technique may be an effective option. This technique is performed by the officer shoving the suspect between the shoulders as he overtakes the suspect and knocking them to the ground.
7.) Never under-estimate the power of verbal commands. A well timed, well phrased command may be the determining factor that causes the suspect to abandon his initial hopes of escaping.
8.) Continually evaluate the suspect’s movements. Slowing down may indicate that the suspect is trying to lure you in for an assault. If the suspect seems to accelerate suddenly, he may be attempting to create distance in order to set up for an ambush. Shoulders dipping could signify that the suspect is trying to access a weapon. Shoulders’ turning suggests that the suspect may be initiating an assault.
9.) If the suspect rounds a corner, use either a quick peek, cut the pie, or limited Israeli technique. Do not blindly follow the suspect around a corner and lose a tactical advantage.
10.) If you lose sight of the suspect for more than a brief moment or you feel that you no longer have an opportunity to apprehend the suspect safely, transition to team apprehension techniques. These techniques include, but are not limited to; establishing perimeters, cover/contact principles, K-9’s, air units, etc.
From the time we were children playing games such as cops and robbers, it is ingrained in our impressionable minds that robbers run and hide and the cops eventually catch the robbers. Whether it is a child’s game or life on the beat, this cycle will be replayed for generations to come. At the end of the day, the children go home safely to their families and live to play another day.
For police officers, chasing suspects (robbers) is no game, but in the end we still hope that they all go home safely to their families.
We all know, sadly, that this isn’t always the case. Maybe by studying how officers are killed and by analyzing and evaluating our tactics we can become better equipped to handle such encounters mentally, physically, and tactically. Not all foot pursuits are the same and our responses should be tailored to the totality of the circumstances and not hell-bent on apprehension at all costs.
