DCJS DCJS Emergency Vehicle Operations & Pursuit Driving Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The FIRST action an officer should take when initiating a vehicle pursuit is:
- Activate emergency lights and siren
- Notify dispatch of the pursuit, location, and reason (Correct answer)
- Contact the nearest backup unit directly
- Attempt a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle quickly
Correct answer: Notify dispatch of the pursuit, location, and reason
Immediate radio notification to dispatch is the first required action so supervisors and backup units can be informed and respond.
Question 2: During a vehicle pursuit, which ongoing duty does the pursuing officer have?
- Attempting to ram the suspect vehicle
- Maintaining bumper-to-bumper contact with the suspect
- Continuously broadcasting location, direction, speed, and suspect description (Correct answer)
- Requesting helicopter support on every pursuit
Correct answer: Continuously broadcasting location, direction, speed, and suspect description
Officers must provide continuous radio updates so supervisors can monitor conditions and make informed termination decisions.
Question 3: A vehicle pursuit should generally be TERMINATED when:
- The suspect vehicle runs a red traffic light
- Backup units have not yet arrived on scene
- The risk to public safety clearly outweighs the benefit of immediate apprehension (Correct answer)
- The suspect exceeds 80 mph on a highway
Correct answer: The risk to public safety clearly outweighs the benefit of immediate apprehension
Pursuit termination is warranted when the danger created by continuing poses a greater threat than allowing the suspect to temporarily escape.
Question 4: If a supervisor orders pursuit termination, the pursuing officer must:
- Continue for one more mile to identify the suspect
- Immediately comply and disengage from the pursuit (Correct answer)
- Request a second authorization from a higher-ranking supervisor
- Continue only if apprehension is imminent
Correct answer: Immediately comply and disengage from the pursuit
Supervisory orders to terminate must be followed immediately; continuing after such an order is a policy violation.
Question 5: In a multi-unit vehicle pursuit, secondary units should:
- Overtake the primary unit to take the lead
- Drive parallel to the suspect vehicle on an adjacent road
- Maintain a safe following distance behind the primary unit (Correct answer)
- Block all intersections ahead of the pursuit
Correct answer: Maintain a safe following distance behind the primary unit
Secondary units support by maintaining a safe interval, reducing the risk of collision while remaining ready to assist.
Question 6: Vehicle pursuits for minor misdemeanor traffic violations are generally:
- Encouraged to maintain law enforcement authority
- Permitted only during daylight hours under DCJS policy
- Discouraged or prohibited when public risk is high (Correct answer)
- Treated identically to felony pursuits under Virginia law
Correct answer: Discouraged or prohibited when public risk is high
Most agency policies restrict or prohibit pursuits for minor traffic violations when the potential harm to the public is disproportionate.
DCJS DCJS Emergency Vehicle Operations & Pursuit Driving Questions and Answers 2
The FIRST action an officer should take when initiating a vehicle pursuit is: