0630.05 Vehicle Interventions and Pursuits

0630.05 Vehicle Interventions and Pursuits 
    
Refer:    
•    ORS 164.135, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle
•    DIR 0220.40, Lawsuits and Claims
•    DIR 0310.20, Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Prohibited 
•    DIR 0600.00, Aircraft Use
•    DIR 0612.00, Communication Technology and Procedures  
•    DIR 0630.10, Driving Response
•    DIR 0905.00, Non-Force After Action Reports  
•    DIR 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation
•    DIR 1010.00, Use of Force 
•    DIR 1010.10, Deadly Force and In-Custody Death Reporting and Investigation Procedures
•    DIR 1500.00, Training
•    ICS Forms

Definitions:
•    Boxing In: A coordinated intervention strategy designed to stop or prevent forward and/or reverse movement of a suspect vehicle by making end to end contact with the suspect vehicle.
•    Dynamic Box-In: A box-in performed on a vehicle that is in motion.
•    Static Box-In: A box-in performed on a vehicle that is not in motion.

•    Cover Unit: A sworn member who is involved in the pursuit and may assume responsibility for communication or planning vehicle interventions, when feasible.

•    Feasible: When time and safety allow for a particular action.

•    Force: Physical coercion used to effect, influence, or persuade an individual to comply with an officer, to include the intentional pointing of a firearm at an individual. Control holds and handcuffing without resistance do not constitute force.

•    Marked Unit: An emergency police vehicle equipped with external overhead lights.

•    Primary Unit: The sworn member initiating a pursuit and primarily responsible for following the suspect vehicle.

•    Pursuit: An active, deliberate attempt by one or more members in police vehicles to apprehend or keep pace with a suspect in a vehicle, when the suspect is making an active effort to resist apprehension. This does not include the use of Air Support or reasonable efforts by members to get into position to perform vehicle interventions where it is possible to do so with consideration for the safety of the public.

•    Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT): An intervention strategy designed to stop a fleeing motorist safely and quickly by making contact with the fleeing car at a specific point on the vehicle, which throws the car into a spin and brings it to a stop.

•    Ramming: An intervention strategy that involves intentionally contacting any part of a suspect vehicle with any part of one police vehicle in a manner that is reasonably likely to mechanically disable a suspect vehicle (i.e., prevent the vehicle from operating). Ramming carries the potential to seriously injure a suspect and/or officers.

•    Stop/Spike Strips: Devices used to deflate tires in a controlled fashion.

•    Tactical Apprehension Strategy: A plan, focusing on surveillance and containment, to use additional resources or tactics to safely apprehend a fleeing suspect. A vehicle pursuit is not a tactical apprehension strategy.

•    Trailing: A member driving within Code 1, as defined in DIR 0630.10, Driving Responses, without emergency equipment activated, while broadcasting updates or observing a suspect vehicle actively resisting apprehension. Trailing is not considered a pursuit; however, deliberate attempts to apprehend or keep pace with a suspect vehicle making an active effort to resist apprehension, with or without emergency equipment activated, constitutes a pursuit.

•    Vehicle: For the purposes of this Directive, a vehicle is a motorized vehicle.

•    Vehicle Intervention Strategies: Tactics designed to stop or reduce the speed of a fleeing vehicle in an attempt to reduce safety risks posed to the community, the suspect, and members.

Policy:
1.    This directive establishes the procedures for vehicle pursuits and member use of Vehicle Intervention Strategies.

2.    Apprehending suspects is key to the Bureau's mission of reducing crime and the fear of crime, however the Bureau recognizes that vehicle pursuits are dynamic and rapidly evolving in nature and, as a result, have inherent safety risks. Therefore, members are expected to only engage in pursuits when the benefits to the public clearly outweigh these inherent risks.

3.    The Bureau shall train all sworn members in pursuit management and vehicle intervention strategies. Members shall adhere to this training when determining whether to engage in a vehicle pursuit, during the management of the pursuit, and when employing Vehicle Intervention Strategies.

Procedure:
1.    General Considerations and Requirements for Pursuits.
1.1.    Considerations.
1.1.1.    Before initiating any pursuit, members must consider the reasonableness of pursuing a suspect vehicle and the totality of the circumstances to determine whether the benefits of apprehending the suspect outweigh the risks of the pursuit.
1.1.1.1.    Members must continuously weigh the benefits of apprehension and the risks of the pursuit as the incident evolves.
1.1.2.    When considering the reasonableness of pursuing, members shall consider the following factors to include, but not limited to:
1.1.2.1.    Traffic density.
1.1.2.2.    Geographic location and time of day (e.g., residential area, school zone).
1.1.2.3.    Environmental conditions (e.g., weather, road conditions, presence of pedestrians).
1.1.2.4.    Suspect speed.
1.1.2.5.    Severity of the offense. 
1.1.2.6.    Threat the eluding vehicle poses to the safety of the public. 
1.1.2.7.    Availability of cover officers or additional resources.

1.2.    Authorization.
1.2.1.    Only sworn members shall engage in vehicle pursuits. 
1.2.2.    Members shall only initiate a pursuit of a suspect fleeing in a vehicle:
1.2.2.1.    When there is reasonable suspicion to believe the suspect committed a felony person crime;  
1.2.2.2.    Where the suspect's driving behavior, before a police presence or an attempt to initiate a stop, places the public in immediate danger of serious physical injury or death; or
1.2.2.3.    As permitted during pre-planned missions (Section 2).

1.2.3.    Authorization in Extraordinary Circumstances.
1.2.3.1.    Supervisors may authorize a pursuit in an extraordinary circumstance not listed above, when it is clear that the benefits of immediately apprehending the suspect outweigh the risks of the pursuit. 
1.2.3.2.    Supervisors shall consider the totality of the circumstances when evaluating whether to authorize a pursuit, specifically: 
1.2.3.2.1.    The threat posed by the suspect to the public. 
1.2.3.2.2.    The severity of the crime or crimes committed by the suspect. 
1.2.3.2.3.    The risk involved in the pursuit. 
1.2.3.2.4.    Whether the pursuit is likely to reduce the threat posed by the suspect. 
1.2.3.2.5.    The availability of additional units to employ interventions. 
1.2.3.2.6.    If the suspect can be located or apprehended more safely at another time.
1.2.3.3.    If the requesting member or the supervisor is unable to clearly articulate why the benefit of immediate apprehension outweighs the risks of the pursuit, then the supervisor shall not authorize the pursuit.

1.3.    Prohibitions.
1.3.1.    Members shall not engage in pursuits or use Vehicle Intervention Strategies under the following circumstances: 
1.3.1.1.    When, in the totality of the circumstances, the risk to the public, suspects, and members outweighs the benefit of apprehending the suspect; or
1.3.1.2.    When the member has an objectively reasonable belief, that the suspect can be located or apprehended in a safer manner at a future time.

1.4.    Disengagement.
1.4.1.    Members shall disengage from a pursuit under the following circumstances:
1.4.1.1.    If, upon initiation, the member is driving any vehicle other than a Marked  Unit, that member shall relinquish the primary role when a Marked Unit is in position to assume it. Unmarked units may continue in secondary or tertiary positions as needed, particularly when they serve a critical support function (e.g., K9), and shall disengage when sufficient Marked Units are available to maintain safe and effective coverage.
1.4.1.2.    The pursuit has entered another jurisdiction, another agency has taken over the primary role in the pursuit, and the other agency has adequate cover present.
1.4.1.3.    If multiple police vehicles are involved in a pursuit and a collision that is reasonably likely to require an immediate medical response occurs, then at least one pursuing member shall disengage to render appropriate aid while the other members continue pursuit. 
1.4.1.3.1.    If only one police vehicle is in pursuit and a collision occurs under these circumstances, but the benefit of apprehension outweighs disengagement, then the pursuing member must call for immediate backup to render appropriate aid; the involved member may continue the pursuit. 
1.4.1.4.    The Air Support Unit (ASU) serves as an additional resource to support ground units in safely intervening and/or terminating pursuits. However, the ground supervisor managing the pursuit shall maintain responsibility for overall pursuit management, even when ASU arrives on scene.

1.4.1.4.1.    If ground units are unable to get in a position to perform a Vehicle Intervention Strategy within a reasonable amount of time of ASU's arrival, they shall disengage active pursuit and transition to positioning to employ Tactical Apprehension or Vehicle Intervention Strategies.
1.4.1.4.2.    When ASU is on-scene, ground units must consider aerial updates, in addition to all other considerations required by directive, when deciding whether to perform a Vehicle Intervention Strategy or re-engage pursuit.  

1.5.    Pursuit Participation.
1.5.1.    Only a maximum of three units shall engage in a pursuit with lights and sirens continuously activated. 
1.5.1.1.    A supervisor may authorize exceptions to the three-unit maximum under very limited circumstances and only when an unusually dangerous situation dictates (e.g., multiple dangerous suspects, shots fired, armed robbery, etc.). Supervisory approval for additional pursuit vehicles must be authorized by voice over the air.
1.5.1.2.    The decision to attempt to use a vehicle intervention technique maneuver will not, alone, be a justification for a fourth unit.

2.    Preplanned Missions. 
2.1.    Preplanned missions may offer the opportunity to mitigate the risk of vehicle pursuits by giving members the opportunity to prepare in advance and by ensuring that appropriate resources are in place to resolve pursuits quickly. 
2.1.1.    While on a mission, members must individually justify all pursuits based on the totality of the circumstances. Members shall not rely on the Incident Action Plan (IAP) pursuit authorization as the sole basis for initiating a pursuit.

2.2.    Responsibility Unit (RU) Manager Responsibilities. 
2.2.1.    An RU manager may authorize pursuits for crimes or driving behavior, not otherwise authorized by this directive, as part of a preplanned response or mission. The mission must have a written IAP that includes at least the following:
2.2.1.1    No more than a 24-hour period during which the IAP will be in effect. 
2.2.1.2    Why pursuit authorization supports the mission. 
2.2.1.3    What Vehicle Intervention Strategies are in place that increase the likelihood that a pursuit can be resolved quickly and safely. 
2.2.1.4    The resources available to the mission (e.g., K9, ASU, plain clothes or undercover units), that will make it possible to resolve pursuits more quickly. 
2.2.1.5    The specific circumstances during the mission or response that will justify the use of vehicle pursuits.
2.2.1.6    A designated Bureau supervisor who will authorize and manage pursuits.

2.3.    Supervisor Responsibilities During Preplanned Missions. 
2.3.1    Supervisors shall brief all members participating in the mission on the specific circumstances justifying a vehicle pursuit under the IAP and any strategies and resources in place to safely resolve pursuits. 
2.3.2    Authorize and manage pursuits consistent with the requirements of this directive.

2.4.    Member Responsibilities During Preplanned Missions.    
2.4.1    Only members assigned to a mission or preplanned response may initiate a pursuit authorized under this section, unless the mission supervisor authorizes a non-assigned member to initiate the pursuit. 
2.4.2    Members not involved in the preplanned mission or response may participate in a pursuit authorized under this section as needed.
 
3.    Tactical Apprehension and Vehicle Intervention Strategies. 
3.1.    Tactical Apprehension and Vehicle Intervention Strategies may offer a safer approach for apprehending fleeing suspects rather than pursuing. Accordingly, the Bureau encourages members to use Tactical Apprehension and Vehicle Intervention Strategies instead of pursuing, when feasible.

3.2.    Tactical Apprehension Strategies.
3.2.1.    Examples of Tactical Apprehension Strategies include, but are not limited to:
3.2.1.1.    Trailing, as defined in this directive, to broadcast updates or direct other units into position to employ an intervention strategy. 
3.2.1.2.    When reasonable, driving to get into a position to employ a Vehicle Intervention Strategy.
3.2.1.3.    Area search.
3.2.1.4.    Obtaining assistance from ASU.
3.2.2.    When a pursuit is no longer authorized (i.e., termination or disengagement), a supervisor shall determine the reasonableness of continuing to employ Tactical Apprehension Strategies.

3.3.    Vehicle Intervention Strategies.
3.3.1.    Authorization and Considerations.
3.3.1.1.    Members may only employ Vehicle Intervention Strategies that are Bureau approved and that they have been trained to use.
3.3.1.2.    Certain Vehicle Intervention Strategies, as noted below, are force. As such, Directive 1010.00, Use of Force, applies to those interventions, and any application of force must be objectively reasonable under the totality of the circumstances.  
3.3.1.3.    A member may employ Vehicle Intervention Strategies when the member reasonably believes that, in the totality of the circumstances, the benefits of a particular maneuver outweigh the risks, and when otherwise permitted by policy.
3.3.1.3.1.    Before employing a Dynamic Box-In, PIT, or Ram, members shall consider the suspect's behavior, speeds, vehicle condition, the road conditions, and the underlying offense.  

3.3.1.4.    Some Vehicle Intervention Strategies can cause significant damage to police vehicles; therefore, members should be mindful of the manner in which they employ a tactic and consider the reasonable likelihood of effectively stopping the suspect vehicle before intervening.
3.3.1.5.    Members shall use lights and sirens before using a Vehicle Intervention Strategy (excluding stop/spike strips), unless preemptive use is justified.

3.3.2.    Preemptive Use of Vehicle Intervention Strategies. 
3.3.2.1.    Members may preemptively use a Vehicle Intervention Strategy prior to a subject eluding or the initiation of a pursuit when the member reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that the subject may elude. 
3.3.2.1.1.    A member's reasonable belief must be based on specific articulable facts about the suspect and their behavior including but not limited to; deactivating lights, changing driving behavior after observing police, or prior flights by the suspect. 
3.3.2.1.2.    Members may preemptively use a Vehicle Intervention Strategy without activating lights and sirens.  

3.3.3.    Authorized Vehicles. 
3.3.3.1.    Members may only use vehicles authorized by the Training Division to perform specific Vehicle Intervention Strategies.

3.3.4.    Stop/Spike Strips. 
3.3.4.1.    Member use of this tactic does not constitute force.
3.3.4.2.    Members may employ the device, when reasonable under the totality of the circumstances. 
3.3.4.3.    Members may not employ Stop Sticks/Spike Strips on two- or three-wheeled vehicles.

3.3.5.    Boxing-In. 
3.3.5.1.    Static and Dynamic Box-Ins are designed to stop or prevent the start of a pursuit. 
3.3.5.2.    Members may perform Box-Ins using two or more police vehicles or, when it is not feasible to use a second police vehicle, a single police vehicle and a fixed object or non-police vehicle the member reasonably believes to be unoccupied.
3.3.5.3.    Static Box-Ins: 
3.3.5.3.1.    A static Box-in that results in an injury or where the maneuver is reasonably likely to cause injury is reportable force. 
3.3.5.3.2.    Members who employ a static box-in must document that action in an appropriate police report. 
3.3.5.4.    Dynamic Box-Ins: 
3.3.5.4.1.    Dynamic Box-Ins are considered force and will be reviewed consistent with Directive 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation. 
3.3.5.4.2.    Supervisors should be mindful that the manner in which a member performs this maneuver may have greater force review implications. A Dynamic Box-In that causes serious physical injury is considered a Ram. A Dynamic Box-In that results in the mechanical disabling of the suspect vehicle could be considered a Ram.

3.3.6.    Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT). 
3.3.6.1.    Members shall not use this tactic on two- or three-wheeled vehicles, passenger-occupied buses, or vehicles transporting hazardous materials. 
3.3.6.2.    PITs are considered force and carry a similar risk of causing injury or damage as Dynamic Box-Ins. Supervisors will review PITs consistent with Directive 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation.

3.3.7.    Ramming. 
3.3.7.1.    Ramming carries a higher risk of causing injury or damage than all other Vehicle Intervention Strategies; therefore, members may only employ a Ram
3.3.7.1.1.     When there is reasonable suspicion to believe the suspect committed a felony person crime; or
3.3.7.1.2.    Where the suspect's driving behavior, prior to police presence or an attempt to initiate a stop, places the public in immediate danger of serious physical injury or death. 
3.3.7.2.    Ramming is considered force and will be reviewed consistent with Directive 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation.
3.3.7.2.1.    When reviewing the incident, supervisors shall consider whether the member performed the Ram in a manner that was reasonably likely to result in mechanically disabling the vehicle or to cause serious physical injury.

3.3.8.    Other Tactics.
3.3.8.1.    Members are encouraged to employ the authorized Vehicle Intervention Strategies defined in this directive. However, pursuits and interventions are dynamic, and the opportunity for member intervention is reliant upon the suspect's actions and driving behavior. In these circumstances, member attempts to intervene must be consistent with training.
3.3.8.2.    If a member employs a tactic that does not meet the definition of a Vehicle Intervention Strategy (e.g., pushing a vehicle without a fixed object or without mechanically disabling the vehicle) and does not result in a serious physical injury, supervisors shall review the incident using Category III review procedures, at a minimum.

4.    Pursuits Involving Other Jurisdictions.
4.1.    For pursuits entering the Bureau's jurisdiction from another jurisdiction, the managing supervisor will determine whether members will participate in the pursuit. 
4.1.1.    If the supervisor determines that the Bureau will assist in the pursuit, members may only engage in the pursuit consistent with this policy, regardless of the policies of the originating jurisdiction.

4.2.    For pursuits beginning in Bureau jurisdiction and entering another Oregon jurisdiction, it is the responsibility of a managing supervisor or a designated member to 1) ensure that BOEC notifies the receiving jurisdiction of the conditions giving rise to the pursuit and the actions taken during the pursuit; and 2) request assistance from the receiving jurisdiction. 
4.2.1.    If the receiving jurisdiction agrees to assume primary control of the pursuit, once that transfer occurs, the Bureau will only continue the pursuit in a supporting role. 
4.2.2.    If the receiving agency elects to terminate the pursuit while in that jurisdiction, PPB members will also terminate the pursuit.

4.3.    Members shall terminate pursuits that travel into the State of Washington, unless the underlying offense is a felony person crime and delayed apprehension poses an immediate risk to public safety (e.g., unknown suspect address).

5.    Pursuit Termination.
5.1.    Members must terminate a pursuit when the safety risks posed to the community clearly outweigh the benefit of apprehending the suspect. Termination may be called by any sworn member, whether involved in the pursuit or not. Members will terminate a pursuit when directed to do so by any sworn member.

5.2.    Once a pursuit is terminated, involved members shall verbally acknowledge the termination over the radio, disengage, and stop following the suspect vehicle. If involved in the pursuit, ASU may continue to monitor the fleeing vehicle, but reengagement by ground units is limited by Section 6 of this Directive.

5.3.    Members shall not retaliate against involved members regarding the decision to terminate a pursuit.

5.4.    Members shall refer concerned property owner(s) whose property may have been damaged during a pursuit to the City of Portland's Risk Management Office, in accordance with Directive 0220.40, Lawsuits and Claims.

6.    Pursuit Reengagement.
6.1.    After termination or disengaging, a member may only reengage a pursuit of a suspect vehicle with supervisor approval and if the member is able to articulate why circumstances have changed, specifically, why the benefits of apprehension now outweigh the risks of the pursuit.

7.    Reporting.
7.1.    Members who participate in a pursuit or attempt or successfully employ any vehicle intervention strategies shall complete an appropriate police report. 
7.1.1.    Members do not need to complete a report when they place stop/spike strips, but the subject does not drive over them.

7.2.    Supervisors will complete after-action reviews and investigations in accordance with Directives 0905.00, Non-Force After Action Reports, and 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation. 
7.2.1.    The Vehicle Intervention Strategies detailed above, when used on a subject's vehicle, are not accidents, and thus do not require accident-related investigation and reporting.

7.3.    The Chief's Office will complete an annual report that covers trends in pursuits and identifies training, policy, and personnel issues, when applicable.

8.    Primary and Cover Unit Responsibilities.

8.1.    The primary unit shall, as soon as feasible, broadcast the initiation of the pursuit, its location, and the justification. The primary will then broadcast regular updates with pertinent information (e.g., location, speeds, road conditions, suspect behavior). 
8.1.1.    When a Cover Unit joins the pursuit, this member may assume responsibility for communications, when feasible. Any additional Cover Units involved in the pursuit will support the primary unit and look for opportunities to safely employ Vehicle Intervention Strategies to end the pursuit.

8.2.    Other units in the general vicinity of the pursuit who are not directly involved may proceed with caution to a position that would assist in perimeter support, to employ Tactical Apprehension Strategies, or to place stop/spike sticks.

9.    Non-Bureau and Non-Sworn Bureau Member Passengers.
9.1.    Members shall not initiate a pursuit or use Vehicle Intervention Strategies (other than spike strips), when transporting suspects, witnesses, complainants, or ride-along participants, or other members of the public (i.e., non-Bureau members) unless there is an imminent threat to life to the public or the member.
9.1.1.    This does not apply to sworn officers from other agencies, city employees acting within the scope of their employment, or district attorney staff.  

9.2.    Members carrying cadets, Public Safety Support Specialists, chaplains, or other non-sworn Bureau members will disengage from a pursuit, as soon as another authorized unit can replace the member.

10.    General Responsibilities for Supervisors.
10.1.    When managing a pursuit, supervisors shall:
10.1.1.    Announce their role over the radio;
10.1.2.    Determine if the pursuit is authorized and announce that decision on the radio;
10.1.3.    Respond to the area of the pursuit;
10.1.4.    Continually balance the safety risks posed to the community against the benefit of apprehension in managing the pursuit;
10.1.5.    Authorize and direct additional units to engage in a pursuit, as needed;
10.1.6.    Ensure radio communication between all applicable parties;
10.1.7.    Plan, approve, and direct appropriate Vehicle Intervention Strategies to end a pursuit as quickly as possible to avoid or mitigate safety risks;
10.1.8.    Assess the reasonableness of continuing a pursuit when support units are on-scene;
10.1.9.    Manage notifications and direct control of pursuits that either extend into or are received from other jurisdictions;
10.1.10.    Order the pursuit be terminated, when necessary (e.g., members are not adequately broadcasting updates, intervention strategies are not being implemented, there are not enough resources available to employ intervention strategies, the safety risks posed to the community clearly outweigh the benefit of apprehension);
10.1.10.1.    If ordering termination of a pursuit, verify with the involved member(s) their location at the time of the pursuit termination and document that location in the After-Action Report.
10.1.11.    Ensure reports are completed in accordance with directives; and
10.1.12.    Conduct a debriefing with all involved members. The debrief should include an overview of the pursuit and, when applicable, a discussion of any vehicle intervention strategies employed. Confirm that the debrief occurred in the After-Action Report.

10.2.    Incident Oversight and After-Action Reviews.
10.2.1.    To ensure appropriate oversight of the incident, supervisors generally shall not employ Vehicle Intervention Strategies or participate in pursuits that they are actively managing, when feasible. However, if the managing supervisor has an opportunity to intervene to apprehend the suspect, then the supervisor may take the necessary police action, as permitted by this directive.
10.2.1.1.    If a managing supervisor participates in a pursuit or otherwise intervenes, they shall, when feasible, request another supervisor to assume management responsibility.
10.2.2.    When reviewing incidents as part of the After-Action Review process, supervisors shall consider whether member driving behavior, to include pursuing; driving-related Tactical Apprehension Strategies; and Vehicle Intervention Strategies; was objectively reasonable based on the totality of the circumstances.
10.2.3.    If an incident involves a member employing a tactic that does not meet the definition of a Vehicle Intervention Strategy, supervisors shall review the incident using Category III review procedures. Additionally, supervisors shall consider whether the member employed the tactic in a manner that was consistent with training.
10.2.4.    Supervisors may elevate the category of review for any force investigation in accordance with Directive 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation.

Effective:         3/11/2026

Next Review:   3/11/2028