GARFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE POLICY / PROCEDURE PATROL SUBJECT: VEHICLE OPERATIONS EFFECTIVE DATE: January 01, 2004 POLICY: When responding to emergency or non-emergency calls for service, Garfield County Sheriff’s Deputies shall drive with due regard for the safety of the general public and comply with all traffic laws within the scope of their duties. PURPOSE: To provide Garfield County Sheriff’s Deputies with guidelines for the operation of emergency vehicles for both routine and emergency responses. DEFINITIONS: • Emergency vehicles: Vehicles assigned to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office that are equipped with authorized emergency equipment which shall include lights and siren in accordance with state law. • Emergency Response: Response to a situation where the immediate presence of a deputy is necessary to protect a person from possible death or serious bodily injury. These situations include, but are not limited to: crimes in progress, alarm calls, medical emergencies, traffic accidents with possible injuries, fights or disturbances of a physical or unknown nature, and catastrophic events. METHODS: A Deputy cannot assist someone with a law enforcement need if the Deputy cannot respond to, and arrive, in a safe and timely manner. The standard of care as established in CRS 42-4-104(4) states: “The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regards for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of such driver’s reckless disregard for the safety of others.” Therefore, members of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office will always hold the safety of the public as the ultimate goal of any emergency vehicle operation. During routine patrol, transport duties, or responding to non-emergency situations, Deputies shall operate emergency vehicles in a lawful manner, obeying all traffic laws. When responding to emergency situations, Deputies shall drive with due regard for the safety of all persons. Use of both lights and siren shall be used at all times. When approaching controlled intersections, Deputies shall exercise due regard for approaching traffic and pedestrians and proceed through the intersection only when it is safe to do so. Lawful speed limits and other traffic regulations may be disregarded only if life or property is not endangered. Due regard for public safety and safe vehicle operation will be the determining factor as to the speed of the responding vehicle. The Dispatch Center will be advised whenever a Deputy is operating in an emergency mode. The Dispatch Center will be advised if the Deputy has to travel through any Municipality in an emergency mode, and the Deputy will request that the Dispatch Center notify the law enforcement agency of that Municipality and advise them of the Deputy’s operation.