2004 Annual Report - City of Fairbanks

PURSUIT TRAINING
In 1996, Officers with F.P.D. and A.S.T. were involved in a pursuit of a motorist who had
committed a traffic violation and then refused to stop at the direction of the following
police vehicles. Despite the use of emergency lights and sirens, the fleeing suspect
collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Airport and Cowles. The collision resulted in
serious injuries to Jason Weaver, and caused the tragic and untimely death of John
Weaver, both innocent third-parties.
This incident, as with other similar scenarios experienced across the nation, caused our
community and the Fairbanks Police Department to re-examine and evaluate its policy on
vehicle pursuits. The result has been a much more restrictive policy, requiring officers
and on-duty supervisors to carefully weigh the risks and hazards created by any pursuit,
versus the necessity for an immediate apprehension of a criminal suspect.
In 2004 the Fairbanks Police Department successfully met one of its 2003 goals, sending
Sgt. Doug Whorton to Pursuit-Driving/Instruction school where he was successfully
certified as a Department Instructor. This training was put to immediate use, as Sgt.
Whorton returned and conducted a series of eight-hour classes, attended by all
commissioned personnel. Lessons in vehicle operations were coupled with reviews of
current policy, procedure, and discussions on proper decision-making. All F.P.D. Officers
are made keenly aware of the risks inherent in any vehicle pursuit and are reminded that
in many circumstances the dangers created by a pursuit far outweigh the necessity for
capture.
In 2004 F.P.D. Officers initiated twentyfour
traffic stops which evolved into
pursuits, seven of which were immediately
terminated due to the perceived risks
involved with time-of-day, area traffic, road
conditions, etc. Of the seventeen which
continued, all culminated in the
apprehension of the driver, with no injuries
Other, 8
CONTINUED PURSUITS
DUI, 9
Continued,
17
TOTAL PURSUITS: 24
Terminated
, 7
or further collisions resulting. It should be noted that nine of the drivers were charged
with DUI, which presents one of the most
problematic situations for Officers: the paradoxical
decision as to whether to try and stop a significant
hazard on the road (as presented by an obviously
impaired driver), versus “letting the driver go,”
knowing that they will present a continuing- and
possibly deadly-threat on our community’s
roadways.
In 2004 F.P.D. also assisted other area law-enforcement agencies three (3) times with their
pursuits. In December of 2004 Sergeant Jim Geier responded to assist Airport Police
Units as they attempted to track a suspect who had attempted to elude them. The fleeing
suspect opened fire with a 9mm handgun, wounding Sergeant Geier. The suspect was
then shot and killed by the Airport Police Officer.
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