Request for Comment [Weazel News]

[Herrman Wolff]

Los Santos County Sheriff's Department Public Information Request Sheriff's Information Division

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Contact Information

Your Name: HERRMAN WOLFF
Your Phone Number: 298-4429
Your Position in Your Agency: CONTENT MANAGER
Your Email Address: [email protected]
Date / Time of Request ((UTC via /time)): 08/FEB/23 01:20

Request Information

Detailed information of your request:

I am submitting a request for comment to get a response from the LSSD on recent allegations by several citizens that the LSSD (and the LSPD) individuals have been endangering citizens lives by driving recklessly and beyond acceptable means whilst in pursuit.

Could the LSSD shine light on the driving procedures that restrict officers whilst in a pursuit and using lights and sirens? Does the LSSD suitably outline acceptable and unacceptable driving means in a pursuit, so to not cause public endangerment?

For transparency, a like-for-like public Inquiry has been made to the LSSD .

[Timothee Olsen]

Los Santos County Sheriff's Department Sheriff's Information Division "A TRADITION OF SERVICE"

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• February 8, 2023
  Mr. Wolff,
  
  The Los Santos Sheriff's Department tries to ensure that all deputies in the field are following pursuit protocol to ensure the safety of civilians in pursuits. The LSSD has numerous protocols in place to ensure civilians' lives are safe, deputies follow a pursuit line, which ensures that civilians are safe from the pursuit should they wait for the pursuit to pass them. Shortcuts to catch the suspect are strictly not allowed, deputies are not allowed to cut through grass, cut corners, etc.
  
  The abovementioned is one of the many ways the LSSD ensures deputies are respecting civilian life in vehicle pursuits. Should deputies violate any pursuit protocol and be found to endanger civilian life, they can and will be charged with criminal negligence.
  
  Here are two direct quotes from the LSSD handbook that demonstrate our dedication to ensuring the safety of civilians.
  

  Your sirens & lights do not make you invincible, neither does it automatically make everyone obedient. Do not fly through intersections and other blind spots without making sure that it's clear, you could be charged with criminal charges should you neglect the preservation of life and perform dangerous maneuvers due to negligence.

  It's OK to terminate pursuits if they become too dangerous. We cannot catch everyone, our primary focus is preserving life and if a pursuit becomes so dangerous that it jeopardizes our chances of preserving life, it may be necessary to terminate a pursuit.

  The Advanced Training Division of the LSSD also hosts pursuit protocol sessions about once a month to ensure deputies are still familiar with pursuit driving. These can take place anywhere from our training grounds, to the streets of Paleto. This ensures our deputies are well-taught and knowledgeable about the pursuit protocol.
  
  One thing to note for the public is, should you see or hear a law enforcement officer, you should pull over and wait for them to pass. This ensures deputies do not have to drive around civilians on the road. Should civilians neglect to pull over for a law enforcement officer, they could be subject to VC06 - Following or Impeding Emergency Response. It is also not advisable to follow pursuits for "fun" as pursuits can rapidly change direction or evolve into a gunfight.
  
  As for the claims from "several citizens", it is encouraged they report any neglectful driving to Internal Affairs so it can be properly investigated.
  

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  From
  
  Assistant Commanding Officer Timothee Olsen
  Sheriff's Information Division
  Los Santos County Sheriff's Department