OPO Policy Recommendations For Improvement to Austin Police Department's General Order 214.6.4 Low Speed Intervention
In this memo, the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) provides recommendations on the Austin Police Department’s General Order 214.6.4, which describes low-speed interventions involving APD vehicles. OPO recommends that APD institute policies that clearly define low-speed interventions, the situations in which LSIs should be used, and training requirements for such interventions.
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AUSTIN
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
CITY
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 | TTY: 711 | FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
1839
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20PO
March 19, 2024
Robin Henderson, Interim Chief of Police
Austin Police Department
715 E. 8th Street
Austin, TX 78701
RE: OPO Policy Recommendations For Improvement to Austin Police Department's
General Order 214.6.4 Low Speed Intervention
Dear Chief Henderson:
A
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide feedback and recommendations for improvement
to the Austin Police Department's (APD) General Order (GO) 214.6.4: Low Speed Intervention.
The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) conducted oversight of Internal Affairs case #2023-0531.
The officer was found to have violated policy 214.6.4 by performing a Low Speed Intervention
tactic without exigency and without considering the unintended consequences of their action.
The specific policies reviewed in this memorandum are as follows:
214.6.4 Low Speed Intervention
We look forward to addressing the items identified and improving these policies for the benefit
of the community and APD's sworn personnel.
Sincerely,
1839
Dail
McCar
Gail McCant, Director
Office of Police Oversight
OF
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
CITY
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 | TTY: 711 I FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20P0
214.6.4 Low Speed Intervention
Recommendation #1:
OPO recommends that APD provide a concise definition.
Low Speed Intervention (LSI) lacks a clear definition in the General Orders. The OPO
recommends that APD clearly define what constitutes "low speed." Currently, deciding how to
perform an LSI is subjective, and the lack of clarity can result in potential violations.
Recommendation #2:
OPO recommends that APD create training to address LSI.
The OPO recommends that APD implement practical application training for LSIs. The current
policy language is insufficient in describing how to execute the maneuver properly, nor does it
provide specific instructions regarding where to impact the target vehicle.
Recommendation #3:
OPO recommends that APD require lights and sirens activated before engaging in any LSI
tactic.
OPO recommends that APD require officers to be Code 3 before an LSI impact to allow the subject
time to comply. Low Speed Intervention is currently the only pursuit intervention tactic that does
not require the officer to be running Code 3.
Recommendation #4:
OPO recommends that APD clearly outline the factors in which LSI tactics may be used.
The LSI policy should be consistent with other pursuit termination tactics that require exigency
and be reserved for situations where there does not appear to be another reasonable or alternative
method.
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