Utah County deputies hone night pursuit skills
A police vehicle pursues the "bandit car" during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Deputy Chad Stilson instructs the occupants of the "bandit car" with a fake gun after successfully stopping them during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
A police vehicle follows the vehicle of deputy Chad Stilson as he pursues the "bandit car" during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Utah Valley dispatcher McKinzie Bradshaw watches as the "bandit car" and pursuing police vehicle make their way toward the course as she communicates with officers throughout the scenario during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Police successfully stop and arrest the occupants of the "bandit car" during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
An unmarked police vehicle purses the "bandit car" (not pictured) during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Deputy Chad Stilson checks his radio before beginning his scenario during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The "bandit car" evades a traffic stop, starting a pursuit, during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Deputy Chad Stilson makes a sharp turn as he pursues the "bandit car" during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Deputy Jory Provstgaard assesses deputy Chad Stilson during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Deputy Chad Stilson instructs the occupants of the "bandit car" after successfully stopping them during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Deputy Chad Stilson relays information on the radio as he acts as a supporting officer during night pursuit training held by the Utah County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range near Camp Williams State Military Reservation in Bluffdale. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Pursuing a suspect at night with traffic and debris in the road can be dangerous to the police officers as well as members of the public. That is why every law enforcement officer must be trained thoroughly before the need for a pursuit arises.
On Friday, 17 deputies from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office met at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Range for Night Pursuit Training. Each deputy must pass a pursuit training test every year in order to be able to drive a patrol vehicle.
“We want the training to be good enough for the deputies, so that they don’t have accidents. Nighttime is a different dynamic with lights and watching for debris in the road. You can’t copy that,” said Sgt. Wayne Keith, director of the program for the sheriff’s office.
Each time they are tested, the deputies react to a different, carefully planned scenario, as if it were real. “There’s a lot of thought that goes into planning them,” Keith said. He and other members of the team plan the scenarios based on real-life incidents. Together, the administration and instructors decide what would be best for the training.
Friday’s scenario was a chase in progress – a code 1080. A domestic violence suspect had fled from police, shots were fired and he may have been hit. As the suspect, who is one of the instructors and referred to as the bandit during the pursuit training, passed, two sheriff’s office vehicles began the pursuit.
“The guys try to keep up with the bandit while staying safe,” said Garrett Dutson, instructor. Deputies pursuing the bandit keep in constant contact with dispatch, even during the scenario.
Leaving all weapons behind, they can only have rubber guns with them during the scenario. There are blocker cars along the way, which are other deputies parked or driving as in a real traffic situation, even coming into the intersections as the pursuit officers maneuver around them. Cones are placed in some areas along the route and this scenario also included a U-turn.
To make it as real as possible, the bandit car and those pursuing it travel at high rates of speed, over 80 mph at times, slowing at turns and curves. Even so, the pursuit vehicles stop briefly at stop signs, making sure intersections are clear and follow other traffic rules, such as passing the blocker cars on the left. They are legally able to drive faster than the speed limit when they are trying to catch up to violators of the law, according to Dutson.
When the bandit car finally stopped, the scenario continued. The officer-in-training commanded the driver and passengers to exit the car and lie on the ground. Then, one at a time, they walk backward toward the officers with their hands on their heads. The scenario is not over until the suspects are securely placed under arrest. Only one officer should give instructions at a time. “They need to be the main voice so the suspect doesn’t get confused,” Dutson said.
A firearms instructor watches the final stop closely, critiquing to make sure the deputies are keeping themselves safe. “At the end of a pursuit, there’s a lot of adrenaline,” said Sgt. Shawn Radmall, instructor.
“Our main goal is to make sure they know their vehicle, know how to control it, drive safely, obey all traffic laws, clear intersections,” Dutson said. “We teach them to keep their distance. We want to make sure they know their equipment. We don’t have to look down while we’re driving. We know exactly where our buttons are.”
To be certified to drive a patrol vehicle, all officers must initially pass a weeklong course at which they are tested in timed driving and various maneuvers. To become instructors, they must take an additional weeklong course.
