0630.15, Foot Pursuits
Refer:
• ORS 131.615, Stopping of persons
• ORS 153.039, Stop and detention for violation
• DIR 0600.00, Air Support Unit Operations
• DIR 0630.05, Vehicle Interventions and Pursuits
• DIR 0720.00, Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) Use
• DIR 0900.00, General Reporting Guidelines
• DIR 0905.00, Non-Force After-Action Reporting, Review, and Investigation
• DIR 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation
• DIR 1010.00, Use of Force
Definitions:
• De-escalation: A deliberate attempt to prevent or reduce the amount of force necessary to safely and effectively resolve confrontations.
• Foot Pursuit: An incident in which an officer chases – on foot – a fleeing suspect who is evading detention or arrest. Foot pursuits do not include incidents in which members are able to immediately apprehend a suspect within arm’s reach or with reasonably minimal time or effort to close a distance gap, and do not include running to visually surveil for the sole purpose of coordinating a tactical apprehension strategy.
• Tactical Apprehension Strategy: A plan, focusing on surveillance and containment, to use additional resources or tactics to safely apprehend a fleeing suspect. A foot pursuit is not a tactical apprehension strategy.
Policy:
1. This policy establishes procedures for utilizing tactical apprehension strategies and engaging in foot pursuits. The Portland Police Bureau authorizes only its sworn members to engage in foot pursuits.
2. The Bureau acknowledges the inherent risks that foot pursuits present to Bureau members and suspects, and potentially, the community. However, members have a duty to attempt to apprehend offenders when appropriate. Deciding to initiate or continue a foot pursuit is a decision a member must make quickly and under unpredictable and dynamic circumstances.
3. Accordingly, the Bureau encourages the use of tactical apprehension strategies over foot pursuits because of their emphasis on de-escalation and their potential for safer, strategic apprehension. When conducting foot pursuits, members must continuously balance the benefit of immediate apprehension against the risk the pursuit presents, based on the totality of the circumstances.
4. While foot pursuits are not tactical apprehension strategies and vice versa, police work is fluid and circumstances change. Situations may call for one tactic or the other, at different points. Members are permitted to use Foot Pursuits or Tactical Apprehension Strategies, and transition from one to the other, as appropriate for the circumstances and consistent with this directive. The Bureau expects members to recognize which tactic they are using and follow the relevant restrictions and requirements.
Procedure:
1. Deciding Whether to Pursue.
1.1. Members shall only engage in foot pursuits if they reasonably suspect the person has committed or is about to commit a crime.
1.2. Members shall only initiate or continue foot pursuits if the benefit of immediately apprehending the suspect outweighs the risk the pursuit presents to the public, suspects, and members, based on the totality of the circumstances.
1.2.1. Risk factors may include, but are not limited to:
1.2.1.1. Member physical condition;
1.2.1.2. Member familiarity with area or location;
1.2.1.3. Weather, terrain, or other environmental conditions; and
1.2.1.4. If the suspect’s identity is known, the feasibility of apprehending the suspect and recovering evidence at another time and place.
1.3. A foot pursuit in and of itself does not constitute a use of force. If a member uses force, during or to end a foot pursuit, the member must act in accordance with Directives 1010.00, Use of Force, and 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, regarding their application and reporting of force.
1.4. No member of the Bureau shall criticize or retaliate against another member for deciding not to initiate, discontinuing their involvement in, or terminating a foot pursuit.
2. Tactical Apprehension Strategies.
2.1. Tactical apprehension strategies are generally the safest approach for apprehending fleeing suspects. Accordingly, the Bureau encourages members to use tactical apprehension strategies instead of initiating a foot pursuit, when feasible.
2.2. Examples of tactical apprehension strategies include, but are not limited to:
2.2.1. Surveilling the suspect from a safe distance and making a plan for apprehension.
2.2.2. Using concealment and surprise.
2.2.3. Anticipating the suspect’s destination and using a different route to arrive there.
2.2.4. Requesting Bike Squad resources.
2.2.5. Establishing a perimeter and conducting a block search or K9 track.
2.2.6. Obtaining assistance from the Air Support Unit or SERT.
3. Foot Pursuit Restrictions.
3.1. Members shall not engage in or continue foot pursuits when the suspect:
3.1.1. Is armed, unless no other alternative strategy is feasible, and a delay in the apprehension of the suspect would present a threat of death or serious physical injury to others; or
3.1.2. Enters an area where the member reasonably believes they may become isolated from cover officers and/or radio communication.
3.2. Additionally, members shall not engage in or continue foot pursuits when the member:
3.2.1. Knowingly loses possession of their firearm or other essential equipment;
3.2.2. Loses contact with the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) and no other means of communication exist;
3.2.3. Is unable to communicate the direction of travel or location enough for other members to assist;
3.2.4. Is instructed by a supervisor to not engage or continue the foot pursuit; or
3.2.5. Loses visual contact of the suspect(s) for more than a brief period.
3.2.5.1. If a member loses visual contact for more than a brief period (e.g., the suspect rounds a corner), the member shall stop to evaluate for safety.
3.2.5.2. If the member regains visual contact, they may re-engage the foot pursuit, as permitted by this directive.
4. Member Responsibilities When Engaging in Foot Pursuits.
4.1. Once a member initiates a foot pursuit, the pursuing member shall notify BOEC and broadcast the following information when feasible:
4.1.1. The location, direction of travel, and suspect description;
4.1.2. The reason for the pursuit; and
4.1.3. Any other information, including updates, relevant to the safe and successful apprehension of the suspect.
4.2. Members shall document the reason for the pursuit in a Foot Pursuit Supplemental Report.
5. Supervisor Responsibilities.
5.1. Supervisors shall:
5.1.1. Respond to the location and continually manage the pursuit.
5.1.2. Encourage members to use tactical apprehension strategies when feasible.
5.1.3. Ensure the appropriate resources are allocated to the incident.
5.1.4. Continuously evaluate whether the benefit of immediately apprehending the suspect outweighs the risk the pursuit presents to the public, suspects, and members, based on the totality of the circumstances.
5.1.5. Terminate pursuits that are inconsistent with this directive.
5.1.6. Following each incident, debrief with the involved members and, if practical, all members on their shifts.
5.1.7. Complete after-action reviews and investigations in accordance with the administrative requirements set forth in Directives 0905.00, Non-Force After Action Reports, or 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation.
6. Responsibility Unit (RU) Manager Responsibilities.
6.1. RU Managers shall:
6.1.1. Require all supervisors to review and debrief foot pursuits with all involved members and, if practical, all members on their shifts.
6.1.2. Complete after-action reviews and investigations in accordance with the administrative requirements set forth in Directives 0905.00, Non-Force After Action Reports, or 0910.00, Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation.
7. Public Order Events.
7.1. This directive does not apply to Public Order Events as defined by Directive 0635.10, Portland Police Bureau Response to Public Order Events.
Effective: 8/16/2025
Next Review: 8/16/2027