- Staff
- #1
Is this a suggestion for a policy/handbook change: handbook
Is this a new policy or a change to a current policy: Change
What policy do you wish to change:
Is this a new policy or a change to a current policy: Change
What policy do you wish to change:
- Tires - Officers should aim for the tires of a vehicle when it is necessary to shoot a recklessly driving vehicle where the occupants are not known to be armed. Once the tires have been popped, officers should stop shooting the vehicle.
Should be changed to:
- Tires - Officers should aim for the tires of a vehicle when it is necessary to shoot a recklessly driving vehicle where the occupants are not known to be armed. Once the tires have been popped, officers should stop shooting the vehicle. Shooting at vehicles which are recklessly driving should only be a last resort when the driver is in the process of intentionally endangering the lives of other road users and pursuing officers, such as ramming road users and officers or speeding down the wrong way of the highway. Officers who do not have a clear shot on the tires should refrain from shooting.
Why should this change/addition be made:
As it stands officers feel as though they are green lighted to use their firearm to apprehend fleeing vehicles before other methods of apprehension, such as road spikes, PIT manoeuvres, etc. Also, officers aren’t hitting tires at all. Officers who are missing their shots run the risk of, and have hit civilians and civilian vehicles, as well as police and government vehicles in crossfire.