Policy Text
CHAPTER EFFECTIVE DATE REVISED PAGE NUMBER
preparation, proper enforcement action during a traffic crash investigation, and the Crash
Review Panel.
SCOPE: This directive is applicable to all Department employees.
POLICY: It is the policy of the Department to provide emergency assistance to persons
injured in crashes, to protect the crash scene, to conduct at-scene and follow-up
investigations, and to take proper enforcement action when appropriate.
All vehicular crashes involving employees operating a Department vehicle or any
employee assigned to the Department operating a City vehicle may be subject to review
by the Crash Review Panel (CRP). An administrative review may be conducted in lieu of
a CRP when approved by the Chief of Police or designee.
DEFINITIONS:
Department Vehicles: Owned, leased, rental, or vehicles specifically assigned to or
operated by an employee.
Preventable Crash: When the employee failed to exercise reasonable care in the
operation of the Departmental vehicle; failed to take reasonable action, which could have
avoided or prevented the crash; violated a Department rule, policy, or procedure, which
contributed to the crash; and/or committed an unwarranted violation of the Florida State
Statutes governing the operation of a motor vehicle.
Non-Preventable Crash: When an employee exercised the level of reasonable care
and caution that would be exercised by an ordinary and prudent person in the same
circumstances as the employee, and who took reasonable precautions to prevent or
minimize the effect of the crash.
Operational: A crash involving a motor vehicle resulting in damage to the vehicle or
another vehicle, and/or property, and/or injury. The classification of operational may be
recommended for utilization in crashes, when police action requires the vehicle’s
operator to focus on a fluid event (exigent circumstances) that may be classified as
preventable under normal driving conditions.
PROCEDURE: