NCJ Number
176930
Journal
Policing Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: 1999 Pages: 93-110
Date Published
1999
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Recognizing that police officers are frequently criticized for excessive use of force and these criticisms sometimes result in litigation, this survey investigated the consequences of police departments having more or less restrictive policies with regard to police vehicle pursuits.
Abstract
Police use of excessive force is manifest in areas such as the unauthorized use of firearms and the videotaped and much- publicized beating of motorist Rodney King. Police scholars and practitioners, however, have recently come to realize that police vehicle pursuits also have the potential to become deadly force. To explore the relationship between the restrictiveness of police policies and police pursuit outcomes, a nationwide survey was conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum. The survey instrument included 50 items with multiple parts and open-ended questions. Specific questions were asked about mandated police vehicle pursuit policies; pursuit data collection and incident analysis; incidents resulting in accidents, injuries, assaults on police officers, or reports of police officer misconduct; policies governing pursuit actions, alternatives, and terminations; training provided to pursuing police officers; procedures for pursuit reviews and/or investigations; and discipline and litigation resulting from pursuits. The survey sample included 737 police agencies, of which 436 provided usable data. Results showed that, as the level of policy restrictiveness increased, pursuits decreased slightly. When policies became more restrictive, more thorough training was provided to police recruits and in-service police officers. When more systematic evaluations of all pursuits were conducted, pursuits typically decreased. As policies and overall pursuit restrictiveness became clearer and there was tighter control over police officers, the less likely police officers were to use excessive force in the apprehension of fleeing suspects. Policy implications of the findings are discussed. 22 references, 3 notes, and 4 tables