Deputy Shot - Tactical Vehicle Approaches

[Lawrence Lujan]

Situation: 

Offender runs a red light; deputy and partner conduct traffic stop; on approach to the driver, driver fires at the officer.  Officer survives....

 

Observations:

·         Full Crew unit

·         No location call-out

·         Solo driver side approach

·         Quick response and return fire by involved officer

·         Partner engaged suspect from the unit passenger door, from behind his partner

 

http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-police-shootout-man-in-shooto...

http://www.lawofficer.com/video/news/dashcam-video-shows-mich-deput

 

 

 

 

Vehicle Stop Approach Reminders

·         You control where the stop occurs, and the stop, not the person being stopped.

·      Call out, give your location and vehicle description!

·         Observe and evaluate before you approach.

·         If full crew consider a staggered approach.

·         If solo and or full crew consider the passenger side approach

·         If full-crew, there is no reason for your partner to remain at the unit while you approach

          alone.

·         Remember contact and cover officer roles.

·         Do not get so caught up with the lust for the bust and issuance of a citation/stat, that you get    

          yourself or your partner hurt or killed.

 

 

Contact Officer Duties:

Conducts all the business of the encounter

Records subject or incident information

Performs pat-downs and searches of suspects and vehicles.

Issues all citations.

Handcuffs all arrestees.

Recovers evidence or contraband.

Handles routine radio communications.

Cover officer Duties:

Devotes full attention to the subject(s) through a position of surveillance and control.

Discourages escape or hostile acts by the subject(s).

Alerts CONTACT OFFICER to any attempts to hide, discard or destroy evidence.

Intervenes with force if necessary to protect CONTACT OFFICER.

Resists distraction and is an unspoken Force Presence.

 

Full Crew Staggered Approach (passenger side approach and view, give all clear to partner and approach on driver side)

 

Solo Passenger Side Approach

Solo 28/29/99 Check Position (larger reactionary gap, two doors open for rounds, vigilance on su vehicle at all times)

Full Crew 28/29/99 Check Position (Contact-1 at unit; Cover-2 at door maintaining over-watch of offender(s), giving directions to keep hands in view and to not be reaching; this is unorthodox, however it prevents you having to re-take and re-clear what you gave up when you walked back to your unit, something many forget to do)

Happy that our partner is safe...

Stay Safe, stay alert, stay alive…………………

[Kim Heath]

Thanks Lawrence.  Traffic stops are all too easy to take as routine.  We all do it at some point.  We all need reminders now and then.