The Police Awareness Indicator appears in the screen’s center when you’re near a cop. Police bring the hammer down if you commit crimes, act suspiciously, or break traffic laws within range of their attention.
Witnesses
Civilians can also bring the heat if they see you committing a crime. When this happens, the civilian becomes a “Witness” and a telephone icon appears above the civilian as they make their way for the nearest phone or patrolling police officer.
Crimes and Offenses a Witness will respond to:
Being seen in public with a weapon drawn
Aiming at a civilian for a while
Killing a civilian
Killing a police officer
Shooting a number of times
Carjacking
Hitting a few people with cars
Carjacking a policeman
Blowing up a vehicle
Driving over a civilian
Performing a takedown on an enemy
Blue Zone
A blue zone appears on the map and minimap after a crime is reported. This means the police are actively searching for you. To end the search, look at your map and head past the nearest edge of the blue zone and remain there until the search is over. You can also call the Police Dispatcher to stop the search immediately.
Red Zone
Cops in a red zone are in a “shoot-first, ask-questions-later” state of mind. Open your map and check the boundary of the flashing Active Police Zone, then try to get outside of it while losing the pursuit. Or try hiding until the Police Awareness level drops to a blue zone.
Cops within a blue police zone (also displayed on your map) still search for you, but less aggressively. You can move stealthily, avoiding contact until you get outside the zone.
The following creates a red zone when police are watching (blue police indicator is on-screen, but your Associates’ Police Dispatcher service is not active):
Aiming at a civilian
Killing a civilian
Punching an enemy a few times
Killing a police officer
Shooting
Driving on the sidewalk for a while
Hitting a number of vehicles quickly
Hitting a police car with a car
Carrying a weapon for a while in public (unholstered)
Shooting at a vehicle
Carjacking
Carjacking a police occupied car
Hitting a police officer with a car
Hitting a few pedestrians with cars
Stealing a car
Stealing a police car
Aiming at a police officer
Shooting at a police officer
Shooting at a civilian
Blowing up a vehicle
Throwing a Grenade or Molotov
Performing a takedown on an enemy
Interrogating informant
Placing explosive
Carrying a body for a while
The following creates a red zone event even when the Police Dispatcher service is active (you used the Associates’ Police Dispatcher service):
Injuring a police officer
Killing a police officer
Shooting at police or their vehicles
Hitting the police car with your car
Other Police Behavior
Police investigate gunshots and explosions they hear but cannot see. The time to investigate varies on location. This happens quicker in the city and slower in remote areas. Police watch you for a while, but when you get too close to them, they tell you to go away. Police also attack you if they see you in a police zone, which is around many police stations.
To escape from the police, stay out of their circle of attention displayed on your Minimap. Be careful: this circle will grow as you break more laws, making it even harder to lose their pursuit.