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Subject: Roadblocks |
Series Number 308 03 Effective
Date December 01, 1971
Revision
Date * |
The purpose of this
order is to establish the policy and procedures for the use of department
vehicles in setting up roadblocks. This order consists of the following parts:
PART I Responsibilities and Procedures for Members
of the Department
PART II Responsibilities and Procedures for Special
Assignment
Personnel
PART III Responsibilities and Procedures for
Supervisory and
Command Personnel
PART I
A. General.
1. It
is the policy of this department that setting up roadblocks for the purpose of
apprehending wanted criminals, while an important law enforcement technique,
shall not be employed when innocent persons clearly would be endangered by the
use of such roadblocks. Members of this department shall be aware of the
extreme and easily realized dangers inherent in the
use of roadblocks in pursuit situations and shall take every precaution
consistent with this order to avoid those dangers. It is also the policy of
this department that under no circumstances shall vehicles other than
Metropolitan Police Department vehicles be used as roadblocks.
2. Roadblocks
shall be used by members of this department during fresh pursuit only as a last
resort when the person being pursued has proved, by his method of flight, a
total disregard for the lives and safety of the public and then only on the
authorization of an official.
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Publication |
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Effective Date |
Page Number |
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General Order 308.3 |
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December 01, 1971 |
2 of 2 |
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B. Use of Department Vehicle in Roadblock
Situations.
1. Once
a departmental vehicle has been stationed as part of a roadblock, no one shall
remain in the vehicle. The vehicle ignition system shall be turned off and all
emergency lights shall be turned on. The vehicle shall be situated in such a
way as to be as conspicuous as possible and to afford on—coming vehicles every
opportunity to observe the roadblock and to avoid a collision. Metropolitan
Police Department motorcycles and motor scooters shall not be used in or as
roadblocks.
2. Nothing
in this order shall be construed to prohibit the use of Metropolitan Police
Department vehicles, while displaying appropriate emergency signal warning
lights, as protective barriers at the scene of art accident or other incidents
occurring on a roadway or for purposes of crowd control.
C. Establishment of Roadblocks.
If
there is no official able to order the establishment of a roadblock, the
officer on the scene shall be responsible for providing the Communications Division
with complete and accurate information on the incident, sc as to allow the
proper and appropriate decision to be made.
PART II
A. Communications Division.
Once
a roadblock has been ordered, the Communications Division
shall assume responsibility for the location and number of any
roadblocks. to be established and for the coordination
of such roadblocks with any related pursuit activity.
PART III
Supervisory
Officials.
A roadblock can be
ordered only by an official of the department. An official of the
Communications Division may, on hi. initiative, based
am information relayed to his, establish a roadblock only if there is no field
official involved with the incident or able to respond thereto.
