Before creating a model vehicle pursuit policy that can be used by law enforcement throughout the state, members of the Attorney General's Advisory Group on Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuits spent some time recently chasing suspects — in a simulator.
Scott Whatley and Ryan Born of the Attorney General’s Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) brought a mobile simulator used to train officers to the parking lot of the Columbus Police Academy, where the group was meeting, and invited members — especially those who have never been involved in a pursuit — to take a turn at the wheel.
One group member was early in a pursuit when he blew through an intersection and was hit by a green car. Whatley pointed out his mistake — not clearing every lane before going through the light. He said it’s a common mistake for officers using the simulator.
“This is a very humbling scenario for officers,” Whatley said. “Who do they blame this crash on? The green car — but just because we have our lights and sirens on doesn’t mean we have that intersection.”
A replay can be used to show the officer’s mistake.
Often, distractions, such as the radio and computer inside the cruiser, lead to crashes, Whatley said.
“Not only are we responsible for red lights, stops signs and traffic, but we have these other distractions in our car that take our attention away from our driving,” he said.
Afterward, with the driving simulator experience fresh in their minds, the board members began taking on the task of writing the model policy.
The board has reviewed the policies of various police departments including Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, German Township, and Mansfield; the Licking County Sheriff’s Office; the County Risk Sharing Authority, which provides suggested model policies for the sheriff’s offices of its 65 member counties; and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA).
Simulators available upon request
The Attorney General’s Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) has seven mobile simulators available free upon request to law enforcement agencies.
Typically, the driver will start with basic skills, such as hand placement, head movement, and dealing with typical distractions. Then, the driver will run through scenarios to practice the proper clearance of intersections.
The scenarios bring up discussions about where to stop, what to look for, and what is most important at that moment.
The lesson will wrap up with some pursuit scenarios where the driver will have to keep a safe distance, avoid distractions, maintain good radio traffic, and know when to call off the pursuit for safety reasons.
The simulators can be set for day or night, country or city, and good weather or bad weather.
To request a training, email AskOPOTA@ohioattorneygeneral.gov.