In pursuit of safer chases

Thursday, August 6, 2009
By David Melson

Officer Bruce Davis, left, pursues Detective Lt. Pat Mathis during a simulated chase last Friday. Officers were expected to avoid all cones set up in obstacle courses at the old Walmart parking lot.
(T-G Photo by David Melson) [Order this photo]

Shelbyville police officers simulated vehicle pursuits during a training session last week at the old Walmart parking lot on Madison Street.

Most of the department's officers, who were joined by a police officer from Huntland, practiced on a "street course" marked off by plastic pylons spread across the lot.

The class's purpose was to train officers to stay focused during pursuits, said SPD Lt. Trey Clanton, who teaches similar courses at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.

Lt. Trey Clanton, left, discusses concentration during pursuit driving with members of the Shelbyville and Huntland police departments and several Shelbyville city council members, who occasionally rode with officers.
(T-G Photo by David Melson)
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Detective Lt. Pat Mathis drove the "chase car" as officers took turns following.

"The primary car is the first behind the suspect," Clanton said. "A secondary unit will join the pursuit and call the chase."

"Calling the chase" involves keeping dispatchers notified of the chase's location by radio.

Officers were reminded of the importance of successfully multitasking during chases, Clanton said, during which they must talk on the radio and clear intersections while often driving at high speeds.

"This helps them calm down and get back into the game, stay focused on all that's happening around them and not concentrate only on the car (in front of them)."

Officers received radio "calls" in which suspects had been spotted. They chased Mathis around the parking lot twice at up to 40 to 45 mph, while making sharp turns and talking on the radio.

Another unit joined the chases on the second run, concentrating on radio traffic. Signs denoting Shelbyville streets were mounted atop the cones. Officers practiced on radioing their locations while monitoring the lead car.

Shelbyville police receive yearly training in pursuit driving and other law enforcement techniques, Clanton said.

Comments

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This is great training that our Shelbyville Police Department officers receive. They use their patrol cars more than any other piece of equipment they have. This type of training will only help our department to become more efficent in protecting the citizens of Shelbyville. Keep up the good work SPD!!

-- Posted by cordell on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 3:40 PM

I think it's great that our local officers have a location here in town where they can practice and build their skills...and that they share their space with other departments. Great work guys! Keep it up!

-- Posted by jtjustice30 on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 4:35 PM

I think its a great idea and also good training as well. Heck just driving here in town is good training.

-- Posted by relicdigger on Mon, Aug 10, 2009, at 2:12 PM