Department vehicles may be operated as emergency vehicles only within the scope of the law and department policy. Members of the Saint Paul Police Department will attend Emergency Vehicle Operations training (E.V.O.C.). The training shall consist of at least eight hours of classroom and skill-based training every five years as required by Minnesota Statute 626.8458.
Saint Paul Police Department policy supersedes Minnesota Statute 169.17 regarding emergency vehicles. Therefore emergency lights and siren are both required whenever a Saint Paul Police Department squad is operating as an emergency vehicle.
Emergency operation of department vehicles is authorized when:
- Responding to assist at a fire scene.
- Responding to a call for assistance from another officer.
- Responding to a crime in progress. (See exception below)
- Responding to a sick or injured party.
- Responding to an accident with injuries.
- In pursuit of a law violator.
- Time is essential to the response.
The only exception to the use of the siren is responding to a crime in progress. When responding as an emergency vehicle to a crime in progress red lights are required, however, when pedestrians are present in or around the intersection, the siren will be sounded to notify pedestrians of an approaching emergency vehicle. When pedestrians are not present in the intersection, the siren is optional provided the officer can specifically articulate facts that justify not using the siren.
Revised October 26, 2015