As a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Stops and Safety Subcommittee, California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joseph A. Farrow spearheaded the implementation of the successful P.U.R.S.U.E. roll-call training video in California.
The 19-minute DVD uses the acronym P.U.R.S.U.E. (Prepare, Understand, Respond, Stop, Utilize, and Examine) to identify factors in pursuit decision making and provide guidance to law enforcement officers, focusing on why law enforcement agencies should establish a formal pursuit policy.
The P.U.R.S.U.E. program offers international direct delivery of training, providing DVD and VHS tapes to all law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada. By focusing on the fundamentals, the video is designed to complement, rather than conflict with, existing departmental training and policies. It intentionally uses video clips from across the country to enhance officer interest.
P.U.R.S.U.E. was a true joint venture. Farrow collaborated with personnel from Ohio, Oklahoma, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Colorado on conceptual development, script writing and video production.
Despite the sensitive topic of police pursuits, the P.U.R.S.U.E. video strikes an appropriate balance between the autonomous nature of police agencies and the need for consistent, useful training. Throughout the training, law enforcement agencies are shown universally-accepted concepts to consider during a pursuit.
Approximately 17,000 copies of the video were initially distributed, and copies of the video continue to be requested.
To learn more, contact Commissioner Farrow at jfarrow@chp.ca.gov.