The first known line-of-duty death occurred in 1791,
when New York’s Constable Darius Quimby was shot
and killed. Since then, over 18,200 officers have died
while performing their duties. New York City has lost
more officers than any other department, with more
than 600 deaths. The state with the highest number of
police deaths is California, with more than 1,400.
Vermont has the fewest deaths, with 21.
I never dreamed it would be
me
And with heavy heart and
bended here knee
I ask for and all the past
Dear God, let my name be
the last
OFFICER ANDREW C. CALHOUN
Greensboro Police Dept., NC.
Motorcycle Officer Andrew
C. Calhoun, 28, was involved
in a crash while pursuing a
speeding vehicle and died as a
result of injuries sustained in
the collision.

E.O.W. 05-29-1921
OFFICER JOSEPH G. COOPER
Greensboro Police Dept., NC.
Officer Cooper, 23,
sustained injuries from a
crash while assisting other
patrol units in a vehicle
chase. While in the hospital,
Officer Cooper developed
pneumonia and died.
E.O.W. 08-23-1970
OFFICER MICHAEL G. WINSLOW
Greensboro Police Department, NC.
Officer Winslow, 21, was killed
on in an automobile accident
while responding to assist a
fellow officer. Officer Winslow
was traveling on Interstate 40
when a vehicle traveling in front
of him caused him to swerve. In
an attempt to avoid a collision,
Officer Winslow lost control of
his vehicle. His vehicle struck a
concrete bridge support in the
median, killing him instantly.
E.O.W. 06-27-1978
OFFICER PORTER L. ROBINSON
Greensboro Police Dept., NC.
Officer Robinson, 24, died during
a vehicular pursuit of a stolen car.
During the chase, the suspect
vehicle failed to negotiate a sharp
curve. It crossed over the median
into the opposite lanes of traffic
before colliding with a guardrail.
Officer Robinson's vehicle also
left the roadway. He was killed
when his car crashed head-on into
a tree located in the median.
E.O.W. 11-24-1992
Trooper William Bryant Davis
North Carolina Highway Patrol
 Trooper Davis, 47 was killed when
he lost control of his cruiser while
responding to a felony traffic stop.
As Trooper Davis rounded a curve,
his cruiser slid into a pickup truck
and then into a tree. The suspect in
the felony traffic stop was arrested
later in the day. Trooper Davis had
been in law enforcement for 27
years.

E.O.W. 10-21-1999
Trooper David Harold Dees
North Carolina Highway Patrol

Trooper Dees, 31 was killed in a traffic
accident as he was attempting an
enforcement action and lost control of
his unmarked vehicle, which overturned. His patrol car was found with
the emergency lights activated but he
had made no radio contact with
dispatch before the accident.
Trooper Dees had been with the agency
for four years and is survived by his
wife, two sons and daughter.

E.O.W. 04-04-1999
Trooper Calvin E. Taylor


North Carolina Highway Patrol
Trooper Taylor, 41 was killed
when his patrol vehicle was struck
by a tractor-trailer while on the
shoulder of I-40 in Haywood
County. The truck was traveling
15-mph over the posted speed
limit. The driver of the truck was
sentenced to community service
for reckless endangerment.
E.O.W. 10-03-2001
Trooper John H. Duncan


North Carolina Highway Patrol
During a vehicle pursuit, Trooper
Duncan, 28 lost control of his
cruiser, crossed the center lane,
and struck a group of trees. On
impact the cruiser caught fire and
exploded.
Trooper Duncan had been with
the Patrol for two years and is
survived by his wife and three
young children.

E.O.W. 01-09-2001
Trooper William J. Starling
North Carolina Highway Patrol
 Master Trooper Starling, 35 was
killed in a single car accident on a
rural road in Wilkes County. It is
speculated that Trooper Starling was
initiating a traffic strop because his
vehicle had it's wigwag lights
activated. Trooper Starling lost
control of the vehicle upon entering
a sharp left turn, at which point it
overturned and ran down a ten-foot
embankment.
 He is survived by his fiancée,
daughter, and two sons.

E.O.W. 07-20-1998
Deputy Richard Allen Hillard
Rowan County Sheriff's Office, NC.
Deputy Hillard, 46 was killed when his
cruiser struck a tree while in a pursuit
of a motorcycle. He was on a winding
road when his cruiser slid sideways and
struck the tree. Deputy Hillard's shift
supervisor radioed to him to end the
chase, but the crash happened moments
earlier.
Deputy Hillard had been with the
agency for six years, and had been in
law enforcement for 21 years. He is
survived by his wife and two children.

E.O.W. 10-17-1999
STUDENTS WILL RETAIN

10%
OF WHAT THEY HEAR

30%
OF WHAT THEY READ

50%
OF WHAT THEY SEE

90%
OF WHAT THEY DO
YOU WILL HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR
KNOWLEDGE REGARDING STATE LAWS,
POLICY AND DEFENSIVE DRIVING TACTICS
TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
 Create
a positive attitude toward vehicle
operation
 Increase officer survival and public safety
 Increase awareness as a driver
 Evaluate Judgement and decision making
skills
 Experience consequences of decisions
REVIEW LIABILITY ISSUES
Lawsuits
Disciplinary
action
Monetary losses and loss due to
injuries
Vehicle and equipment loss
DEFENSIVE DRIVING
Drive to stay alive
The
Defensive Driver
- Maintains a professional attitude
- Demonstrates good judgment and decision
making skills
- Recognizes hazards
- Reacts properly to hazards
- Avoids collisions regardless of right of way
Driving to stay alive
RECOGNIZING DANGEROUS
ATTITUDES
 Overconfidence
 Self-righteousness
 Impatience
 Pre-occupation
INTERSECTION
ANALYSIS

Scan intersection for dangerous areas
 Focus on danger areas as you approach
 Move your vehicle to the best roadway
position to see danger
 Slow or stop as necessary for safety
 S.I.P.D.E
INTERSECTIONS AND
CROSS TRAFFIC
 Look
in all directions (left, right, left)
 Clear intersections lane by lane if necessary
 Both hands on the steering wheel
 Prima Facie speed limit
– Blind intersection 15 mph
– Stop if necessary
COLLISION AVOIDANCE
 Maintain
a high visual horizon
 Maintain a safe space cushion
 Anticipate other’s actions
 Look through turns before entry
 Consider steering to the rear of the conflict
vehicle
 Drive around the problem
SAFE DRIVING TACTICS

Activation of lights and siren
– Close distance before activation if possible
– Vary siren pitch approaching intersections

Radio use while driving
– Use while driving in a straight line
– Stay calm and speak clearly
– Provides recorded documentation of activities
M.D.T. (computer terminal)

Refrain from using any equipment while
driving that requires taking eyes from road
 If required, use extreme caution
 Communications of immediate nature use radio
 Collisions while using M.D.T. will usually be
preventable
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE OPERATION
REGULATIONS
Vehicle code section
(N.C.G.S. 20-168)

Normal driving (Non Emergency)
 Obey all “rules of the road”
 Violation of “rules of the road” when not
B/L & Siren may present liability
problems if in a collision
VEHICLE CODE SECTION
(N.C.G.S. 20-156)
Provides exemption from “rules of the road”
“RIGHT OF WAY”
 Proper lighting
 Proper audio signal (siren)
 Conditions that allow for a emergency response
REGULATIONS CONTINUED

Vehicle code section (G.S. 20-156)
- Drive with due regard for others
- Regardless of RIGHT OF WAY
 Vehicle code section (G.S. 20-157)
- Other motorists duty to yield
- Knowledge of approach
- See emergency light and hear siren
PASSING OTHER VEHICLES
(Emergency Traffic)
 20-157
requires motorists to pull to right and
stop for emergency vehicles operating b/l
siren.
 Allow motorists time to hear, see, react
 Pass on the left when possible and safe
 If you must pass on the right, slow down to
allow yourself time to react
EMERGENCY DRIVING
POLICY AND PROCEDURES
LEGAL PROVISIONS
– State law
– Agency policy
– Case Law
EMERGENCY DRIVING
INITIATION/TERMINATION OF
PURSUITS
 Decision to pursue is not irreversible
 Based on all factors (past, current, future)
 Type of offense
 Speeds involved
 Public/Officer safety
 Maneuvering required
EMERGENCY DRIVING CONT.

Traffic volume (pedestrians)
 Time of day
 Weather/road conditions
 Familiarity with the area
 Unreasonable danger
 Capability of the driver and vehicle
EMERGENCY DRIVING
CONT.
EMOTIONAL FACTORS
 Siren syndrome (physiological)
 Adrenaline rush
 Tunnel vision
 Need for self-control
 Post-pursuit discipline
VEHICLE OPERATION
TACTICS

Close distance before attempting stop
– potential immunity & liability issues
– Activation of lights and siren
– Vary pitch of siren approaching intersections

Consider backing off if an air unit is present
 Offensive tactics (attempt to stop by)
– Boxing in / Heading off
– Ramming /Driving alongside
– P.I.T. / Road Spikes
OPTIONS
 Roadblocks
– Last resort
– Generally ineffective
 Road
Spikes
– Time and availability of equipment
– Controlled direction of travel
– Potential danger to pursuing units
BLOCKING PUBLIC
ACCESS
 Intersections
– No guarantee of safety through
intersections
 On
and Off ramps
– For public and officer safety
– Coordination/communication
between units
PURSUITS ARE
FOLLOWING ACTIONS
 No
caravanning or paralleling by noninvolved units
 No passing unless requested
 Spacing of units to ensure safety
– Proper braking distance
– Sufficient reaction time/distance
– Avoid Tracking & Tunnel Vision
GENERAL PURSUIT
CONSIDERATIONS

All persons involved are held accountable
 Balance need for apprehension vs. risk created
 Roll of the supervisor should be well defined and
understood
 Primary and secondary units only, unless additional
authorized
 Use of firearms and deadly force limited and policy
issue
Lets go drive
Lets go drive
Lets don’t try any of this !!!