not relieve on-duty supervisors of the responsibility to monitor or terminate the pursuit prior to notifying the District Commander.
5. The supervisor in the district where the pursuit ends shall proceed to the termination point to provide guidance and necessary supervision.
6. In cases where a supervisor is not on duty, the member shall determine whether the pursuit is justified or should be discontinued, and shall use the established guidelines in making that decision. (See 17.05.04(D))
7. Any pursuit involving a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle that results in a traffic crash, whether or not the Florida Highway Patrol vehicle was actually involved in the crash as a contact vehicle, shall be investigated by a supervisor. In the event the crash involves another police agency’s pursuit, a trooper, corporal, or supervisor will investigate the crash. If the crash involves injury or death, or major property damage, the investigation will be supervised on-scene by the designated District Lieutenant.
8. When another agency requests Florida Highway Patrol assistance in a pursuit situation, a supervisor may authorize such assistance only when the pursuit meets the criteria established by Florida Highway Patrol policy concerning pursuits.
9. All provisions of this chapter are applicable in pursuits that are conducted at the request of another agency.
J. PURSUIT OPERATIONS, TACTICS, AND PROHIBITIONS
Members shall comply with the following provisions:
1. DELIBERATE CONTACT – While in pursuit operations, with the exception of the PIT maneuver, deliberate contact between vehicles is prohibited.
2. CARAVANNING – Caravanning by patrol vehicles is prohibited.
3. PASSING – Members shall not attempt to pass other patrol vehicles involved in the pursuit unless the passing officer receives specific permission from the primary pursuing unit or the supervisor.
4. SPACING – All units in pursuit shall maintain adequate space between vehicles to ensure proper reaction and braking time.
5. NUMBER OF POLICE VEHICLES – No more than three FHP patrol vehicles will become actively involved in a pursuit, unless specifically directed otherwise by the supervisor. Other members should be alert to the pursuit progress and location.
6. UNMARKED POLICE VEHICLES – Members operating unmarked police vehicles may engage in a pursuit. However, when a marked pursuit-rated vehicle becomes available to take over the pursuit, the unmarked vehicle will assume the role of back-up unit.
POLICY 17.05-8
