Goonatic

Hello fellow officers,
 
in this post, I'll describe how to conduct a safe Felony Traffic Stop.
 
I hope this information will find your interest and will help you to conduct Felony Traffic Stops in a safe manner.
If you have any questions, additions or concerns, please do not hesitate to post them in this topic or drop me a PM.
 
 
 
What is a Felony Traffic Stop?
A felony traffic stop is a high-risk situation in law enforcement, where officers must stop a suspect's vehicle who is already known to be a possible threat.
These stops are inherently dangerous and require careful planning, communication, and execution to ensure the safety of all involved officers and the individual(s) in the vehicle.
 
 
Dangers of a Felony Traffic Stop
 
Unknown Threats:
Felony stops often involve individuals suspected of serious crimes, and the level of danger can be unpredictable.
Occupants may be armed or have access to weapons, increasing the risk to officers.
  High Stress Levels:
The heightened tension and stress associated with felony stops can lead to mistakes or poor decision-making if not managed properly.
  Risk of Escalation:
There is a potential for the situation to escalate quickly, especially if the individuals in the vehicle are desperate to avoid arrest or believe they have nothing to lose.
  Crossfire Concerns:
In a multiple-officer response, the risk of crossfire between officers is a significant concern, and coordination is crucial to avoid friendly fire incidents.  
 
 
Conduct a safe Felony Traffic Stop
 
Communication with Dispatch is essential for your safety.
Prior to making the stop, you should relay following information to Dispatch:
 
location license plate of suspect's vehicle brief description of the suspect's vehicle and, if possible, description and number of occupant(s)  
 
You should always wait for the response of Dispatch after running a license plate.
Once the decision has been made to conduct a Felony Traffic Stop, call for back up and wait for back up to arrive. Under no circumstances should you try to do it on your own.
 
If possible, have the driver pull off of the roadway. The stop should always be done in a safe location out of traffic and away from pedestrians. Again, relay your location to Dispatch.
Abandoned areas or areas which are known for gang activities are to be avoided.
 
 
Vehicle position
The patrol car is to be positioned in a way that it provides the most protection and safety for you.
One way is to position the patrol car in a matter such that half of the vehicle's width is into the lane of travel. This provides a safe lane of approach to the suspect’s driver door, as it blocks rear approaching traffic from driving directly into your foot path.
 
The patrol car should be kept at a distance of 15 to 20 feet behind the suspect's vehicle.
 
 
Exit the patrol car as fast and safe as possible and wait for backup. Once out, draw your weapon and take cover behind the opened driver door or behind the patrol car.
Do not engage the suspect's vehicle alone.
 
When back up has arrived, is in position and covering you, command the occupant(s) out of the vehicle, one at a time, in the following order:
driver front seat passenger left rear seat passenger right rear seat passenger middle rear sear passenger
  Each suspect is to be searched and arrested before another suspect is commanded out of the vehicle.
 

 
 
Sources:
https://stewartjessica.weebly.com/uploads/2/0/8/7/20878860/formal_project.pdf
https://ridgelymd.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/RPD-General-Order-5-1-Procedures-for-Traffic-Stops.pdf
https://walkerbryant.gitbook.io/chp-sop/chapter-1-law-enforcement-code-of-ethics/1.4-isp-standards
https://chat.openai.com