When police officers signal for vehicles to pull over, drivers usually comply. In rare instances, however, the driver flees and a police pursuit ensues. To end these pursuits quickly and safely, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office has begun training its officers in executing the Precision Immobilization Technique, or PIT maneuver.
As its name suggests, technique is a specific technical maneuver and it requires advanced practical training prior to use. In executing the PIT maneuver, an officer intentionally use his or her cruiser to physically force a fleeing vehicle from a course of travel in order to stop it. Pursuits generally lasting 25 minutes using traditional methods can be reduced to four minutes with little or no damage to the police cruiser or the fleeing vehicle.
“The PIT maneuver has proven to be a safe and effective tool and will help us balance the safety of citizens with the need to apprehend the fleeing individual,” said Sheriff Rex Coffey. “It is my priority to ensure officers have all the tools and training they need to protect citizens and themselves in the pursuit of any public safety threat.”
Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT) awarded the Sheriff’s Office a $7,680 grant in October to fund the PIT training program. The grant was used to purchase safety equipment for four vehicles used for PIT training purposes. The equipment includes a roll cage and seat back supports to protect the officers in training, as well as guards to protect the vehicles and allow for their repeated use.