Portland Police Pursuit Policies Under Scrutiny After Fatal Casco Bay Lines Shooting

PORTLAND — The Portland Police Department's pursuit guidelines are drawing renewed attention following a deadly officer-involved shooting at the Casco Bay Lines terminal last month.

The man killed during that incident was allegedly threatening people with a firearm while driving a stolen vehicle. Officers pursued him along Congress Street to Franklin Avenue before the confrontation at the terminal turned fatal.

City policy requires officers to carefully weigh multiple factors before initiating a chase, including road and weather conditions, population density, their familiarity with the area, and whether the pursuit might endanger other drivers on the road.

When Pursuits Are Authorized

Under Portland police standard operating procedures, officers may only begin a pursuit when there is probable cause that a driver has committed, is committing, or has threatened to commit a violent felony. There is one exception: pursuits are also permitted when "there exists an ongoing threat to an apparently innocent passenger in the vehicle that outweighs the risk of a pursuit."

Only sworn officers in marked vehicles equipped with lights and sirens are authorized to engage in police chases. Officers in unmarked vehicles may initiate a pursuit but must immediately step aside once a fully marked cruiser takes over.

Rules During the Chase

Once a pursuit begins, officers must immediately notify dispatchers, who assign a backup officer to assist. The policy limits active participants to just two units — a primary officer leading the chase and a second officer positioned far enough behind to avoid a collision if the lead vehicle suddenly stops.

Supervisors can also deploy support units to the area. These officers do not directly participate in the pursuit but respond to warn other motorists and assist once the chase concludes.

Crossing Jurisdictional Lines

When a pursuit leaves Portland city limits, officers must decide whether to continue or end the chase. If they choose to proceed, a supervisor requests that the law enforcement agency covering that jurisdiction take over.

Conversely, if outside agencies pursue a vehicle into Portland while violating city policy, the shift commander must ask those agencies to terminate their chase. An April 2025 incident tested this provision: several out-of-state agencies pursued a stolen van through Portland, and while no Portland officers joined the chase, the shift commander was preparing to request its termination — until authorities learned the driver had intentionally struck police vehicles and nearly hit an officer.

Use of Force and Roadblocks

Portland officers are prohibited from ramming fleeing vehicles unless circumstances would justify using deadly force. Stationary roadblocks require shift commander approval and are limited to deploying department-issued tire-deflating devices. Those devices cannot be used on motorcycles, vehicles carrying hazardous materials, or passenger vehicles such as buses or taxis.

A National Context

Police pursuits remain controversial nationwide. According to reporting by the Associated Press, hundreds of people die in police chases each year. In response, law enforcement experts with the Police Executive Research Forum recommended in a 2023 report that departments authorize pursuits only when a violent crime has been committed and the suspect poses an imminent threat to public safety.