Squad Position on Traffic Stops

[Citation Bob]

I need a little help. Does anybody have an authoritative source on squad positioning for traffic stop?

I have tried both the parallel, kick out and the angled stop.

I prefer the angled for the following reasons.
1. All lights are still visible.
2. More of the squad is visible to the approaching traffic.
3. It is easier and safer to exit.
4. With corner strobes drivers move left to go around the flashing light.
5. Your exposure to traffic is minimized to the time when you pass around the corner strobe.
6. The engine block is between you and the stopped vehicle in the event you need additional protection from someone firing at you.
7. Cars that do not pay attention or are DUI that strike your vehicle are deflected away.
8. Your flashing head lights cause drivers approaching fromt he opposite direction to pay more attention.
9. The reflective striping on the squad assists in the squads visibility.
10. Access to the trunk (not a good idea) does not place you directly between your squad and the striking vehicle.

I am not currently allowed to use this tactic because my chief found something on a site for the Crown Vic that stated the parrallel kick out is better. The committee that made the recommendation appears to be comprised of mostly Ford engineers that I suspect may be influenced by Ford Executives that want a way to minimize their exploding gas tank problem rather than dedicate themselves to officer safety.

I would like to convince my chief to use a safer tactic but need someone other than myself to support the tactic.

By the way a neighboring department uses the same tactic with a twist. What some of the officers do is angle to the right. The only thng you lose is the engine block but you gain a totaly safe exit from your vehicle and approach to the violater if you consider only approaching traffic.

[irishlad2nv]

I was taught the same way you mentioned and have yet to find it to be a problem. Well the only time is when you don't have the room on a road to make the 45 degree angle, etc. Since coming down to the south, I do see a lot of the departments park their car directly behind you and mostly, verbally get the driver out of the vehicle...? Anyway, I don't like the approach of pulling directly behind the stopped vehicle for many reasons, but for one, the oncoming traffic can not see your overheads, or if you are in an un-marked, see you at all!

What tactic is your Chief wanting you to use then?

[t150vsuptpr]

The committee that made the recommendation appears to be comprised of mostly Ford engineers that I suspect may be influenced by Ford Executives that want a way to minimize their exploding gas tank problem rather than dedicate themselves to officer safety.
Ford conducted a good array of test and came up with those recomendations. Sure, they want to minimize the fire incidences, but so do we all.

Several years ago, I went to NHTSA's websight and gathered some real facts, the Ford Panther chassis (Crown Vics) have virtually the same instance rate of vehicle fires as the Chevrolet Caprices that so many officers loved, percentage wise. The reason that I believe Ford has taken such a bad rap is that the lawyers and the lawsuit s came about after Chevrolet had dropped from the market (after 96) and in short time, Ford was the main supplier of police vehicles and speeds are higher now than they were back in the 80s and early 90s when so many Chevies were out there, and there is more traffic, and many more larger SUVs and PUs in that traffic than before. These Fords are taking hits at 70+ mph by often large vehicles. One bad case in Az involved an officer that was near stopped and got hit in the rear by a Cropwn Vic Taxis traveling over 100 mph as I recall, and while he was burned, he survived.

Even the old Chrysler products would catch fire on occasion if hit hard in the rear, but they were popular when the roads were less crowded and by smaller vehicles. If you are going to toat around 20 gallons of gas, decide where you want it, under the trunk, above the rear axle, under the seats? Make Ford spend a lot extra that you don't demand of others, and you'll price them out of the market and you can then sit there on the interstate shoulder in a Wimpala wondering how you'll make out.

As to my stops, I hit the lights and try to get the violators stopped where there isn't any guardrails, get them partially over into the grass, then I position my patrol car behind them, parallel with the road, wheels cut left, and slightly offset to the left of the violators veh. I like to have my car 6-8 feet off the fog line. This also makes maximum use of my bar lights, and doesn't leave much police car out left of the left end of the bar light, and it puts me in a better position to watchg both traffic behind me and the violator ahead while I write, run stuff, or whatever. It also minimises me being hit in the drivers side doors. I have stuff in the trunk loaded crossways if it's anything that may puncture the trunk front wall or tank.

[Citation Bob]

Chief wants the "Behind the vehicle and move left with the front wheels turned to the right" approach. His most revealing statement, "there is no defense for striking a vehicle with those lights flashing."

I know I feel much safer when I use the angled approach and would like to convince him to let me use it again.

[Citation Bob]

Ford conducted a good array of test and came up with those recomendations. Sure, they want to minimize the fire incidences, but so do we all.

Several years ago, I went to NHTSA's websight and gathered some real facts, the Ford Panther chassis (Crown Vics) have virtually the same instance rate of vehicle fires as the Chevrolet Caprices that so many officers loved, percentage wise. The reason that I believe Ford has taken such a bad rap is that the lawyers and the lawsuit s came about after Chevrolet had dropped from the market (after 96) and in short time, Ford was the main supplier of police vehicles and speeds are higher now than they were back in the 80s and early 90s when so many Chevies were out there, and there is more traffic, and many more larger SUVs and PUs in that traffic than before. These Fords are taking hits at 70+ mph by often large vehicles. One bad case in Az involved an officer that was near stopped and got hit in the rear by a Cropwn Vic Taxis traveling over 100 mph as I recall, and while he was burned, he survived.

Even the old Chrysler products would catch fire on occasion if hit hard in the rear, but they were popular when the roads were less crowded and by smaller vehicles. If you are going to toat around 20 gallons of gas, decide where you want it, under the trunk, above the rear axle, under the seats? Make Ford spend a lot extra that you don't demand of others, and you'll price them out of the market and you can then sit there on the interstate shoulder in a Wimpala wondering how you'll make out.

As to my stops, I hit the lights and try to get the violators stopped where there isn't any guardrails, get them partially over into the grass, then I position my patrol car behind them, parallel with the road, wheels cut left, and slightly offset to the left of the violators veh. I like to have my car 6-8 feet off the fog line. This also makes maximum use of my bar lights, and doesn't leave much police car out left of the left end of the bar light, and it puts me in a better position to watchg both traffic behind me and the violator ahead while I write, run stuff, or whatever. It also minimises me being hit in the drivers side doors. I have stuff in the trunk loaded crossways if it's anything that may puncture the trunk front wall or tank.

You could be right. Maybe Ford is getting a bad rap, but then we come back to the problem with the Pinto. I don't know maybe the media gave them a bad rap.

I would still like to see an authoratative report on the pros and cons of the two positions. Again if you see or know of any studies I'd like to know.

[t150vsuptpr]

I would still like to see an authoratative report on the pros and cons of the two positions. Again if you see or know of any studies I'd like to know.

Here is a link to the Ford Safety Action Plan (http://www.cvpi.com/safety_action_plan.htm) and it's a good start, and I believe that is where you will find Fords recommendations on positioning. It's late, I'll look through it myself again later and if not, I'll attempt to locate them, as I have read the recomendations, so I know they exist.
Here is a "safety message" (http://www.cvpi.com/pdfs/SafetyMessage.pdf#search='Ford%20Safety%20Action%2 0Plan') that details some of the efforts, it's dated though.
Here is the summary (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/studies/CrownVic/CrownVic021003.html) from NHTSA in 2002 after the studies and tests (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/studies/CrownVic/index.html) were done.

[keith758]

My Chief says that I'm supposed to park offset to the left of the subject vehicle with the squad about 3 feet into the traffic lane to "provide an area of safety for the officer."

I park at an angle behind the car with the front end of the squad going into the lane of traffic. I'm still provided with an area of safety, plus I'm not opening my door so some guy coming from behind can clip it off. Also, if the $hit hits the fan, with the car angled, I can seek cover and concealment behind the engine block or front tire without having to haul my fat ***** to the back of the car!

[jerrymaccauley]

I need a little help. Does anybody have an authoritative source on squad positioning for traffic stop?

I have tried both the parallel, kick out and the angled stop.

I prefer the angled for the following reasons.
1. All lights are still visible.
2. More of the squad is visible to the approaching traffic.
3. It is easier and safer to exit.
4. With corner strobes drivers move left to go around the flashing light.
5. Your exposure to traffic is minimized to the time when you pass around the corner strobe.
6. The engine block is between you and the stopped vehicle in the event you need additional protection from someone firing at you.
7. Cars that do not pay attention or are DUI that strike your vehicle are deflected away.
8. Your flashing head lights cause drivers approaching fromt he opposite direction to pay more attention.
9. The reflective striping on the squad assists in the squads visibility.
10. Access to the trunk (not a good idea) does not place you directly between your squad and the striking vehicle.

I am not currently allowed to use this tactic because my chief found something on a site for the Crown Vic that stated the parrallel kick out is better. The committee that made the recommendation appears to be comprised of mostly Ford engineers that I suspect may be influenced by Ford Executives that want a way to minimize their exploding gas tank problem rather than dedicate themselves to officer safety.

I would like to convince my chief to use a safer tactic but need someone other than myself to support the tactic.

By the way a neighboring department uses the same tactic with a twist. What some of the officers do is angle to the right. The only thng you lose is the engine block but you gain a totaly safe exit from your vehicle and approach to the violater if you consider only approaching traffic.
The study that your chief found was not only done by Ford engineers, but also by the New York State Ploice. It showed that a patrol vehicle parked approximately 15' (one car length) and about half a car width towards the roadway with the wheels turned toward the curb was the safest if making a drivers side approach. The engineers did a good job recreating different rear end crashes. There is also a pretty good IACP study done on the subject. Try looking up patrolvehiclesafety.org for some additional information.

[Daver]

I do NOT teach drivers side approach at all. Yes, there are some times you may have to go to the drivers side but 1:20 stops can be done on the passenger side.
So if you turn your wheels towards the right, then when your car is hit it goes right into you.
It is ME that I care about. Some of the police videos out there showing traffic stops turning into a HUA driver accident are better ways to justify how to position your vehicle and you.

I have always had a better outcome from passenger side approach, and offsetting my vehicle with the front left headlight in the back middle of the suspect car and a slight angle (engine block etc....).
Turn the wheels to the left, as long as I have an escape route on foot (guardrails, walls, trees, hillsides....)


Daver

[towncop]

I'm a S.T.O.P.S. (Strategies and Tactics Of Patrol Stops) instructor here in Indiana and in that program, there are several ways of positioning your vehicle, depending on the situation. On a "routine" (low-threat level), I teach officers to park from 3' to 15' (depending on the situation) back and about 3' to the left of the vehicle they've stopped. Basically, this puts the suspect vehicle's license plate in the middle of your hood.

If the stop is at night, and you use this position, you can use your spotlight for the driver's mirror and your alley lights will be directly in their rearview mirror. Like I said, if this is a low-threat stop, as you exit your vehicle, obviously make sure there is no traffic, you can step out from your vehicle approximately two feet and begin to walk toward the suspect vehicle. Once you're about to the back of the rear door, do a 45-degree angle cut towards the driver's door. By walking up in that manner, with the spotlight and take-down lights, you will surprise the hell out of the driver when you begin talking.

This works for either the left side or right side approach. This program is taught religiously at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. There are several other vehicle positions for other stops that you may encounter as well. I'd highly recommend attending a S.T.O.P.S. class if you can. Here's a link to the officer who invented the program:

http://www.wkf.org/dir.psdi/personnel/psdiMagnuson.html

[Citation Bob]

Thanks to everybody for the input. Anyone else who can provide help is also thanked. This is helpful.

[TPO]

i park way off in the ditch. i drive up almost like i'm pulling along the passenger side then cut the wheels in and point the car at them. then i'm way out of traffic. i go around behind my car and come up on the passenger side. if the two dangers on a t-stop are the violator and traffic, why not eliminate one of them?

[Citation Bob]

i park way off in the ditch. i drive up almost like i'm pulling along the passenger side then cut the wheels in and point the car at them. then i'm way out of traffic. i go around behind my car and come up on the passenger side. if the two dangers on a t-stop are the violator and traffic, why not eliminate one of them?
Wish I could do it that way. Unfortunately in the city they put curbs in the way and my chief doesn't understand that kind of thinking. :(

[TPO]

Wish I could do it that way. Unfortunately in the city they put curbs in the way and my chief doesn't understand that kind of thinking. :(

on at least one stop, had i been on the driver side i would have been killed. the driver instead lost control and went off in the ditch taking out a road sign. he didn't stick around.

i have the video that ford did showing computer simulations on the best positions of a patrol car during stops. it's convincing evidence. so are the many i have that show officers getting hit. i used to teach t-stops at the academy.

[VSP_Troop]

I'm a rookie but I go for angled positioning and a passenger side approach whenever possible. If angled is not possible, i'll do an offset. The only drivers side approach I will do is if i can't get over to the other side or its not safe.

[HardBall]

I just read a good book covering this topic. Anatomy of a MV stop. Its through looseleaflaw.com

[leonha2]

Our latest policy:
Stop your police car approx. 15 feet behind the stopped vehicle, with the front wheels turned to the left.
If your car is hit from behind, it will go away from you; if the vehicle slides along the police car, it also will turn to the left, following the direction of your front wheels.

[deputy x 2]

We are taught off set to the left, about one car length behind. Turn you front tires toward the road. Approach on either side, but NEVER cross between the two cars. At night, I always approach on the passenger side. They "think" you are gonna approach on the drivers side. You can see inside the passenger area, before they even know you are there. The takedown lights and spotlights are always helpful.

[VSP_Troop]

If a cruiser is rear ended and the wheels are turned to the left, the steering will straighten out. I believe there have been studies on this... I would assume maybe positioning a little closer would help.. regardless, i still turn my wheels to the left as well.

[CHPMarine]

we were shown a training video recently which showed that all positions were inherently dangerous. if i am on a road where vehicles are traveling fast enough to push my patrol vehicle into me, i try to have people pull into a parking lot. if we are on the freeway, i get them off of the freeway, if i cant, find a very wide shoulder and offset to the left so that my right front is in line with the middle of their vehicle, (space permitting).

that video was produced by NHTSA i believe. it is very good and very eye opening. it really shows how no position is really better than another. it is all officer opinion.

[FedCop]

Oregon State Police use to pull in front of the violator. I am not sure what the thinking was on that, but it went away some time ago. The CHP has this thing about once they get the violator stopped, to turn off all the red/blue/ambers... something about drunks being attracted to them.