Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

In the movie Bullitt, the cop does create a lot of potential danger in chasing down the bad guys. In real life, if a cop were in his civilian car, and did not have any radio, for back up, would the cop actually try to mow down the bad guys by themselves, such as in the movie? Even if it was the city's biggest killers, and they will likely get away otherwise?

I haven't seen the movie, but as soon as I read the title of the question, I knew the answer was "no."

Before I even read your description of the chase, I knew the answer was "no."

As we have been trying to tell you from your very first question thread, Harmonica, action movies, TV shows, and novels bear almost NO resemblance to the realities of Law Enforcement.

In case I wasn't clear, the answer is "no."

-Citicop.

Well Bullitt was back on the 60's where the were no portable radios or cellphones, but I guess in real life, if a cop had no phone and no radio, then they just have to let the bad guys get away, and call it a day?

I am prohibited by policy from pursuing even in an unmarked police car (like a detective car).

I cannot imagine a real life scenario where I would be in a civilian car with no way to contact anyone and get involved in a pursuit... BECAUSE REAL LIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS NOTHING IN COMMON WITH ACTION MOVIES.

If you can think of a realistic scenario where this might really happen... I'd love to hear it.

Or better yet, a link to a news story where this has happened or SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED to stop a criminal.

-Citicop.

Well Bullitt was back on the 60's where the were no portable radios or cellphones, but I guess in real life, if a cop had no phone and no radio, then they just have to let the bad guys get away, and call it a day?

I worked before portable radios and phones and no one ever got away from me because of that.....

Chases in unmarked cars are not realistic, no.

I decided many years ago that the only chase I would ever get into while in an unmarked car was if I was after Osama Bin Laden.

Looks like I will now never get the chance.

I worked before portable radios and phones and no one ever got away from me because of that.....

Chases in unmarked cars are not realistic, no.

So how do you catch them then?

So how do you catch them then?

You chase in a marked car. If you aren't in a marked car, you don't chase. If you do you risk suspension or termination for violating Department policies and proceedures.

(Most) Modern police departments have policies restricting when and how you can pursue fleeing suspects because every time a pursuit ends in a crash and someone gets hurt, it's the police department who gets sued. This is one of many reasons why the crazy "Bad Boys" car chases you see in action films never really happen in real life.

-Citicop.

True. Well for budget reasons I wanna write a chase where only one cop can do it. That way there will only be one cop and not have to spend more budget for more actors and more police cars. So would only one cop take chase if say, back up was unavailable, and he had to do the whole car chase himself, which of course means not relying on any road blocks?

So how do you catch them then?

We use large nets.


True. Well for budget reasons I wanna write a chase where only one cop can do it. That way there will only be one cop and not have to spend more budget for more actors and more police cars. So would only one cop take chase if say, back up was unavailable, and he had to do the whole car chase himself, which of course means not relying on any road blocks?

As others have said 100 times, it's your story, write it however you want, I think everyone has been pretty clear that it will be fiction since you seem to not understand that movies and real life are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Four years after Bullitt came out I started with another agency in the bay area so I am at least somewhat familiar with the way things were done in San Francisco at that time. Detectives did not get to drive their own suped up Mustangs on duty, even hot shot Detective Lieutenants in turtle necks drove city issued vehicles (the kind with lights, sirens and radios) while on duty. Having driven in the City numerous times that chase would have lasted about four blocks before one or both cars were damaged or destroyed.

As has been said before, its your book, have your hero use a light cycle and a minigun if you want.

I think all the answers can be found in the first few minutes of "The Other Guys" which is a documentary on Policing that I saw a few weeks ago.

There is no way a suped up Mustang would be allowed, unless it is Cincycop, then it is fine. In all other cases, it has to be a SS Chevelle as per the documentary I saw or possibly a red Torino with cool white stripes up the side.

Also if your partner is a peacock you gotta let them fly. It's in the partner rule book.