Minnesota State Police Pursuit Policy

POLICE PURSUIT POLICIES

The Importance of Law Enforcement Policies

Law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to protect the lives of the public and their officers. In order to do so, they must have clear and concise policies and procedures in place. These policies provide guidance to officers on how to handle various situations, including vehicle pursuits.

Minnesota State Policy on Vehicle Pursuits

The Minnesota state policy on vehicle pursuits is that a pursuit is justified when a driver fails to stop after being given a visual or audible signal to stop by a peace officer and there is reasonable suspicion that the driver has committed or is committing a felony.

Definition of a Pursuit

Under Minnesota state statute, a pursuit is defined as any intentional attempt by a peace officer in a marked squad car to apprehend a fleeing motor vehicle.

Risk Factors

When considering whether to initiate a pursuit, officers must consider the following risk factors:

• The speed of the fleeing vehicle
• The condition of the road and weather
• The presence of pedestrians or other vehicles
li>The potential for the pursuit to escalate into a more dangerous situation

Policy Changes Taken from Burnsville, MN

Based on a review of the Burnsville, MN police department's policy on vehicle pursuits, the following changes have been suggested:

1. A vehicle operator fails to stop after being given a visual or audible signal to stop by a peace officer.
2. The officer has reasonable suspicion that the driver has committed or is committing a felony.
3. The officer has considered the risk factors involved and has determined that the need for immediate apprehension of the driver outweighs the risks.

These changes would help to ensure that vehicle pursuits are only initiated when necessary and that the risks involved are carefully considered.