Code 3 Pursuit Policy LVMPD Las Vegas
Code 3 Pursuit Policy LVMPD Las Vegas
Code 3 driving is a police tactic used in responding to an emergency. Good judgment, communication and
coordination are important elements of a Code 3 response that ensure officers are maximizing safety while minimizing
risks.
1. Code 1: Normal response - Must obey all traffic laws and rules.
2. Code 2: Non-Emergency - Lights only, may be used:
1. To stop violators (consideration shall be given for immediate activation of emergency lights);
2. Upon arriving in an area where the use of the siren may signal suspects;
3. To signal other motorists of traffic hazards when an officer is moving at slow speed in traffic (i.e.,
pushing a stalled vehicle, moving at slow speed as a crime prevention tool, making unusual
movement on the roadway). Officers must drive at the speed limit or below;
4. When approved by a sergeant (or higher) during an authorized motorcade;
5. Note: Officers responding to non-emergency calls will not use emergency lights and/or siren for the
sole purpose of crossing intersections.
3. Code 3: Emergency lights and siren, emergency response driving, will not exceed posted speed limit
by more than 20 mph. In regards to pursuit driving, the 20 mph over posted speed limit maximum
rule is removed (see Section 3).
IV. AUTHORIZATION
Only commissioned personnel are authorized to use Code 3. Typing of messages and use of a cell phone are prohibited
during Code 3 response. Code 3 driving is prohibited in vehicles that are not equipped with emergency lights and siren.
PROCEDURE
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Partners with the Community
6/014.00 VEHICULAR PURSUIT
A.S. 1.3.1, 1.3.2, 12.2.2, 41.2.2
I. DEFINITIONS
Pursuit An active attempt by an officer in an authorized emergency vehicle as defined by NRS 484B.700,
using emergency equipment (red lights and sirens), to apprehend a suspect who is failing to yield
after due notice or is attempting to avoid apprehension, and whose driving presents a clear and
immediate danger.
Bubble Tactic A non-code moving containment of the suspect vehicle at a safe distance to aid in the
apprehension of the suspect.
Discontinuance of The complete cessation of a pursuit by the decision of pursuing officers or supervisors - to
Pursuit include the discontinuance of visual contact of the pursued vehicle via turning at the first
reasonable turn off of the primary street - and the return to routine operations.
Paralleling Additional police units travelling on adjacent streets using emergency equipment to keep
pace with a pursuit.
There will be no Code 3 caravanning or paralleling of units or other attempts to join the
pursuit without authorization from a supervisor. If a supervisor authorizes a unit to parallel a
pursuit, the unit will adhere to the Code 3 emergency response driving policy.
Surveillance Mode A tactic wherein the air unit provides ground units the direction of travel, cross traffic, hazards, etc.,
for ground units to be aware of suspect’s actions.
Termination of The finality of a vehicular pursuit due to either suspect apprehension, the crashing of the
Pursuit suspect’s vehicle or suspect lost/evaded pursuing unit(s), and return to routine operation.
II. AUTHORIZATION
Pursuit driving is authorized in Section 2. The rule that limits Code 3 driving to a maximum of 20 mph over the posted
speed limit does not apply to pursuit driving. However, NRS 484B.700, Subsection 4 remains in effect at all times.
NRS 484B.700, Subsection 4: “The provisions of this section do not relieve the driver from the duty to drive with due
regard for the safety of all persons and do not protect the driver from consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety
of others.”
III. GENERAL
A vehicular pursuit may be initiated based on a pursuing officer’s conclusion that the pursuit is the best available options
at the time. Understandably, the decision to pursue is often made under difficult, unpredictable, and rapidly changing
circumstances. For those reasons, the requirement for immediate supervisory authorization for a pursuit and on-going
supervisory control of a pursuit is the cornerstone of the department’s pursuit philosophy. Considering the totality of
circumstances, sometimes the best course of action may be to not pursue or to discontinue a pursuit already in progress.
All pursuits will be thoroughly investigated for adherence to procedures and tactics. The results of these investigations, as
well as other related analyses, will be the foundation for updating procedures and training.
Vehicle pursuits will be conducted in strict compliance with Nevada Revised Statute 484B.700, Authorized Emergency
Vehicles, and Section 2 of this policy, Emergency Response Driving (excluding the rule limiting Code 3 driving to a
maximum of 20 mph over the posted speed limit). Pursuing officers will operate Code 3 using both emergency lights
and siren, and exercise reasonable care for persons and property. Vehicles not equipped with siren and authorized
emergency lights (visible from the front, back, and both sides) will not be permitted to take part in a vehicular pursuit
under any circumstances.
The pursuit will consist of the initial (primary) unit and secondary unit. The primary unit may request the field
supervisor to authorize additional units to join the pursuit, if necessary.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Partners with the Community
When initiated by an officer operating a motorcycle, unmarked unit (with appropriate emergency lights and siren), or
marked sport utility vehicle (SUV) other than a Community Policing or Tourist Safety Division marked Ford Explorer
SUV, that officer will relinquish the primary position to the first standard marked patrol unit joining the pursuit, and
will leave the pursuit when a second standard marked patrol unit joins the pursuit as the secondary unit. The relieved
officer will proceed to the end point of the pursuit.
Supervisors should also relinquish the primary position to the first standard marked patrol unit joining the pursuit to
enable the supervisor to maintain control and objectivity of continuing the pursuit or determining if it should be
discontinued.
There will be NO Code 3 caravanning or paralleling of units, or other attempts to join the pursuit without authorization
from a supervisor.
The LVMPD engages in vehicular pursuits to arrest offenders when necessary to protect people, rights, and property in
our community. Vehicle pursuits are hazardous, and may result in death or injury to innocent bystanders, officers, or
suspects. A pursuit will be conducted only for a violent felony or if the suspect presents a clear and immediate danger to
the public. A pursuit will not be engaged for a property crime, minor traffic infraction or an occupied stolen vehicle
unless the suspect presents the aforementioned clear and immediate danger to the public. If an officer articulates that a
subject presents a clear and immediate danger to the public, the monitoring sergeant, area lieutenant, or watch
commander must verbally approve the pursuit over the radio and can direct officers to continue in the pursuit. In
addition, officers who initiate vehicle pursuits, and field supervisors who allow pursuits to continue, must consider the
following initiation and evaluation factors:
10. Whether the need for immediate apprehension of the suspect(s) outweighs the dangers created by the
pursuit itself;
11. Whether the suspect is known to officers and/or can be apprehended at a later time;
12. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and road conditions;
13. Nature of the area of the pursuit: residential, commercial, or rural;
14. Weather conditions such as rain, fog, snow, etc., time of day, and visibility which create an unreasonable
risk of injury to the public or the pursuing officers;
15. Alternatives to pursuit, including the availability of the air unit, the use of PIT, Stop Sticks, or arrest at a
later time.
All decisions by officers and supervisors to conduct vehicle pursuits will be made with the primary goal of assuring the
safety of innocent citizens, officers, and whenever possible, those attempting to flee.
Prior to conducting a felony car stop for a stolen vehicle, officers will request the air unit and allow it adequate time to
arrive on scene before activating emergency lights and siren.Ŷ
Upon notification, the dispatcher will update the CAD event with the appropriate code using the Modify
Circumstance (MC) identifier. Codes are as follows:
19. PS - Pursuit initiated and completed.
20. PC - Pursuit initiated but canceled prior to completion.
21. PO - Potential pursuit situation observed but situation did not meet criteria.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Partners with the Community
a. PIT (successful uses, attempts and/or declared uses) and vehicle ramming are considered
reportable force and must be reported by completing the Use of Force Report and Pursuit Report
in Blue Team;
b. Critical Incident Review Team (CIRT) will complete the appropriate reports for incidents where
deadly force is used (PIT or ramming);
c. If a vehicle belonging to an uninvolved citizen is damaged, the Watch Commander will respond
to:
1) Offer the citizen alternative transportation, if available and necessary;
2) Offer to tow the damaged vehicle at department expense using the duty service to an
LVMPD contract repair facility, or if the citizen insists, to a facility of the citizen’s choice, or
repair/replacement at the earliest opportunity;
3) Inform the Risk Manager, via Communications, of the damage and location where the
vehicle will be towed. The Risk Manager will determine if a response is necessary;
4) Instruct the citizen to contact the Risk Manager the next work day to arrange
reimbursement.
1. The primary officer(s) shall complete the appropriate reports in Blue Team and forward through the chain
of command to the bureau/area commander.
a. In incidents where it was determined the PIT and /or ramming has been a use of deadly force, CIRT
will complete the Use of Force Report and Pursuit Report in IAPro.
2. The field supervisors shall respond to the termination point and assume responsibility for the scene
ensuring all applicable reports are completed and required notifications made.
3. The Communications supervisor shall notify a commissioned supervisor and a Traffic supervisor whenever
PIT and/or vehicle ramming has been used to terminate a pursuit. They will advise a Traffic supervisor
and the Risk Manager whenever a pursuit or the use of PIT and/or vehicle ramming results in property
damage, injury, or death. The Traffic supervisor will respond, evaluate and determine Traffic’s response
whenever PIT has been used to terminate a pursuit. If it has been determined that the PIT and/or
ramming has been a use of deadly force, the Fatal Detail, CIRT, and FIT will respond.
4. Traffic officers shall respond to assist with the traffic investigation whenever PIT has been used for pursuit
intervention or termination. Since PIT is a planned enforcement technique, an accident report will not be
required. In the event of third-party property damage, the responding traffic officer will complete the
LVMPD 42, Vehicle Incident Report, or NHP-5, Accident Report, as appropriate.
5. The Communications Bureau Research Assistant will forward an event number listing of all pursuits to the
Risk Management Section at the end of each month and will send a copy of the pursuit recording and
event printout to the last primary officer’s bureau/area command, the Office of Quality Assurance
lieutenant, and the Risk Management Section. The Research Assistant will retain pursuit recordings for
one year in the event copies are lost, or there are other requests for a recording.
6. The shift lieutenants shall review the Vehicle Pursuit Report, pursuit recording, and event printout to
determine if pursuit procedures were followed, and attach the event printout and pursuit recording to the
Blue Team Vehicle Pursuit Report. They will forward the report to the bureau/area captain for review,
and initiate any necessary corrective actions.
7. The bureau/area commander will ensure that the necessary investigative and corrective actions have been
followed. He or she will record the comments/actions on the Vehicle Pursuit Report and forward the original to the
Internal Affairs Bureau, via Blue Team.
8. Vehicle Pursuit Reports are entered and maintained in Blue Team. The Office of Quality Assurance will
prepare an annual analysis report of vehicular pursuits for the purpose of identifying patterns or trends,
and will forward copies of the analysis report to the Executive Staff, the Risk Manager, and the
Organizational Development Bureau Commander.
9. The Pursuit Review Committee, chaired by the Office of Quality Assurance lieutenant shall review the
Vehicle Pursuit Reports and annual analysis report and, when appropriate, make recommendations for
policy changes or modifications in the training curriculum. The Internal Affairs Bureau is the repository
for the original forms and CAD event recall and tapes.
10. In the event that an officer is involved in a motor vehicle collision during the course of an emergency
response or a pursuit the officer shall immediately discontinue that involvement and take proper action as
is required by the NRS Transportation Code and all other departmental orders and directives unless:
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Partners with the Community
a. No unit is available to assume the pursuit or respond for the unit involved; and
b. Damage to the unit is minor and it can still be operated without danger; and
c. There are no apparent injuries as a result of the accident.
At the conclusion of any vehicular pursuit, high-risk stop procedures shall be used by all officers present when practical.
(5/15, 5/16)Ŷ