Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
During the February Public Safety meeting at the city’s new public safety training facility, Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson said the department plans to implement a Pursuit Intervention Technique, or PIT, program designed to safely end vehicle pursuits earlier.
Thompson said the program will be funded through the department’s vehicle budget. The City of Prattville has already approved the purchase of the necessary equipment, and future patrol vehicles will be outfitted with PIT capable equipment.
The pursuit intervention technique allows an officer to use their patrol vehicle to make controlled contact with the rear bumper of a fleeing vehicle, causing it to spin out and stop. Thompson said the tactic can end many pursuits before they escalate.
“This will likely end approximately 80% of pursuits immediately,” Thompson said. “Pursuits are very dangerous. If we can train officers and equip vehicles to perform a PIT maneuver, we can stop many incidents before they turn into long pursuits.”
Thompson noted that several agencies in the region, including the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery Police Department, and the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, already use the technique.
According to Thompson, vehicles used to perform the maneuver typically sustain little to no damage, and injuries to occupants of vehicles that have been stopped using PIT have historically been minimal.
“It does save in the long run and might save a citizen’s life in a pursuit if we can stop it early,” he said.
Thompson said the department already has strict policies governing when officers can pursue suspects. Under Alabama law, fleeing from law enforcement while exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph places the public at risk and constitutes a felony offense.
The department’s policies and procedures for the PIT program will be reviewed and approved by the city’s human resources division.
“This will be a new way for us to try to shorten pursuits,” Thompson said. “Any pursuit is dangerous, but if we can stop it at the start, then it will save a lot of time. It will be an extra precaution while on patrol.”
The department plans to send eight officers to Dothan for certification training. Additional officers will be trained each year with the goal of having all patrol officers certified.
“In the future, all patrol vehicles will be equipped for PIT maneuvers,” Thompson said. “If a pursuit starts, that officer will be qualified to perform a PIT and stop it before it escalates.”
The PIT program is part of the department’s ongoing effort to equip officers with tools and training designed to reduce the risks associated with vehicle pursuits and improve public safety.
