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Date: 07/17/06 Revision: 06/16/21 Reviewed: 02/24/25 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF 'S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: DIS 251.00 Page : 1 of 4 SUBJECT: TRAFFIC HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION * I. PURPOSE : The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines for assigning responsibilities and to ensure uniformity with the investigation and reporting of crashes by the Traffic Hom icide Section (THS) within the Criminal Investigations Division (CID). * II. SCOPE : This procedure shall apply to Sheriff's Office Traffic Homicide Detectives conducting traffic homicide investigations crashes likely to cause death , as determined by the head nurse or doctor, and other investigations as directed by the THS Supervisor. * III. DISCUSSION : The investigation of crashes is a component of the Sheriff 's Office mission statement to serve, prot ect, and defend the community. Traffic Homicide Det ectives have the responsibility to investigate and report their findi ngs completely and thoroughly. The reports should include , if applicable, what happened, where the crash occurred, when it occurred, why the crash occurred, and who was involve d. This complete report will determine if the crash resulted from a violation of the law, an act of nature, or a result of a road engineering defect. Traffic Homicide Investigation is an integral part of the Sheriff's Office function and should be conducted complet ely and thoroughly. IV. DEFINITIONS : * A. Delayed Traffic Fatality - For the purposes of state and national rep orting, only deaths occurring within 30 days are recorded as a "delayed fa tality" in the "injury severity " section of the Department of Hi ghway Safety and Motor Vehicles report (DHSMV) . However, the Sheriff 's Office will continue to investigate crashes when the death related to the crash occurs after 30 days. B. Major Incide nt - Crash scenes involving serious personal injury or death, which also involve any or all of the following situations: 1. Hazardous material. 2. Commercial vehicles that have sustained heavy damage. 3. More than two confirmed fatalities. 4. Serious collisions involving Sheriff's Office vehicles. * C. Non-Traffic Fatality - A crash where the driver dies of a cause not associated with the crash as determined by a pathologist of the Medical Examiner's Office (MEO). D. Traffic Homicide Detective - A detective assigned to the THS, who has the responsibi lity of responding to and conducting traffic homicide investigations and other traffic accident investigations as d irected. * E. Traffic Homicide Investigation - The investigation of a tr affic crash resulting in death or a crash likely to cause death . This may also be referred to as a Traffic Fatality Investigation. F. Traffic Homicide Supervisor - A supervisor responsible for coordinating and directing traffic homicide investigation s. DIS 251.00 06/16/21 Page 2 of 4 V. PROCEDURE : * A. Response to Crashes : * 1. Traffic H omicide Detectives will respond to the following: a. Crashes involving death or serious injuries likely to result in death. b. Crashes involving a Sheriff 's Office vehicle resulting in the injury of an involved party requiring transport to a hospital by ambulance. If the crash results in death: (1) The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will investigate crashes involving a Sheriff 's Office vehicle resulting in t he death of an involved party. The Sherif f, or designee , will notify FH P. (2) FHP will investigate fatal pedestrian crashes involving Sheriff 's Office personnel acting in an official capacity. (3) A THS Supervisor , or designee , will act as a liaison with FHP. (4) The THS will assist the Legal Division with gathering information needed for the civil file. c. Requests for assistance by other Sheriff 's Office entities on investigations requiring the skills of the THS. 2. The THS Supervisor will determine the number of detectives needed fo r a scene : a. Criminal c ases will require the case detective, scen e detective, and a third detective for assistance (next of kin, search warrants, etc.) . b. The responding THS Super visor shall notify the CID chain of command immediately. * B. On-Scen e Command: When a detective or supervisor of the THS responds to a crash scene to conduct an investigation, the THS shall assume the lead investigative role at the scene. In major incident scenes involving hazardous materials or rescue procedures, Hillsbo rough County Fire Rescue ( HCFR ) will control the scene ; detectives will document these occurrences. Nothing herein shall be construed so as to contradict Sheriff's Office policies r egarding normal chain of command. C. Crash Scene Responsibilities : * 1. Traffic Homicide Detectives who are present at the scene of a traffic crash shall ensure the deputies at the scene follow proper procedures to ensure scene safety and integrity . 2. As soon as practical , after assessing the situation, the Traffic Homicide Detective shall