To further interagency cooperation, supervisors meet regularly as a multiagency coordination law enforcement (MAC-LE) group. MAC-LE is a combined effort of local law enforcement organizations training on multi-jurisdictional incidents. Supervisors attend quarterly sessions that include participation in large incident debriefs and development of multiagency response guidelines.

Sixty captains, lieutenants, and sergeants participate in the MAC-LE meetings where vehicle pursuits regularly are discussed. The group discovered that each agency used different language to describe the pursuit process. With other staff they coordinated an interagency process to establish common understanding of pursuit responsibility, communication, and authority. After meeting for six months, the group re-established the Treasure Valley Cooperative Pursuit Policy, which involves five sheriff’s departments, the Idaho State Police, and 16 city law enforcement agencies.

Developing the Plan

To eliminate confusion, the policy establishes standard definitions. The organization initiating the chase is considered the initial pursuing agency. The department that has primary authority at a particular location along the pursuit path is referred to as the jurisdictional agency.

Each agency establishes and maintains its own pursuit policy. If a conflict arises between the MOA and an organization’s existing policy, the other executives who signed the agreement are contacted to collaborate on MOA revisions.

If a pursuit continues out of a police organization’s jurisdiction, control remains with the initial pursuing agency until the chase ends or the jurisdictional department takes charge. The initial agency in pursuit may give up control and become a supporting entity if the jurisdictional department accepts authority and has units available to safely assume the pursuit. If the jurisdictional department declines control, it becomes the support unit. The initial pursuing agency takes custody of prisoners, provides information, and takes responsibility for all arrest charges unless the severity of actions outweighs the practicality of that approach.

Under this agreement pursuing officers retain responsibility for determining continuation or termination of a pursuit. However, the incident commander orders the termination. Individual departments and officers can end their involvement if it is contrary to their specific pursuit policies. This information promptly is conveyed to the involved units and the incident commander to ensure appropriate tactical decisions are made.

Determining Authority

The incident commander usually is a commissioned officer assigned to the initial pursuing agency who has authority to direct actions, is not directly involved in the pursuit, and is at the supervisory or command level. This leader determines whether to terminate resources and specific tactics. The commander’s identification is broadcast to all necessary agencies and officers.

Regardless of the agencies involved, the incident commander has authority over the pursuit. When a chase is initiated that leads into another jurisdiction, the commander instructs dispatchers to designate a primary radio channel for the pursuit. The initial pursuing agency provides information, including the initial crime, aggravating factors, and the need for immediate apprehension. This enables agencies to make fact-based decisions regarding the pursuit.

Retaining Liability

All enforcement powers; privileges and immunity from liability; exceptions from law, ordinances, and rules; and pension, relief disability, worker’s compensation, and other benefits are not affected when law enforcement officers are performing their duties under an agreement like this. Each agency retains and assumes liability for the acts or omissions of its officers and holds each other harmless from damages.

Conclusion

This policy cannot address every situation; however, it provides a basic agreement on issues that can cause trouble or jeopardize officer and public safety. The discussions held at the agencies’ operational levels are as important as what is written. The process brings the patrol command-level members together as they discuss different scenarios that the written agreement might apply to. Tragedies sometimes occur when officers pursue criminal suspects through traffic. Agreements, like this one in southwest Idaho, may lower this risk by keeping police pursuits coordinated, well managed, and as safe as possible.