Policy Text
CITY VEHICLE CRASHES
EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/01/05 STANDARD NO. 050 REVISED: 04/26/23
REPLACES: Rev. 03/01/12;_Rev. 02/08/19; Rev. 02/25/19
OBJECTIVE: To provide criteria that will aid in the reduction and severity of City of Homestead
vehicle crashes.
POLICY: It is the policy of the Homestead Police Department (HPD) to establish procedures
which create and maintain an impartial system for reporting, investigating, and
reviewing City vehicle crashes while providing a variety of constructive actions for
the employees involved.
SCOPE: All employees of this Department shall be governed by the procedures set forth
below.
I. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION:
A. All City of Homestead (City) vehicle crashes occurring inside the city limits shall be
investigated by a Traffic Unit Investigator or Uniform Patrol Officer. All City vehicle crashes
shall be reviewed by the Traffic Unit Supervisor to determine preventability or non-
preventability. The term “City vehicle” includes vehicles leased by the City of Homestead
for departmental use or leased by another governmental agency for an HPD Officer or
Detective.
B. HPD employees involved in a traffic crash with a City vehicle shall notify the on-duty shift
commander and their immediate supervisor as soon as possible and practical. If the
employee’s immediate supervisor is not on duty, the on-duty shift commander will forward
the information to the employee’s supervisor via an email.
C. An on-duty Traffic Unit Investigators shall investigate all crashes involving City vehicles
occurring within the City limits. If a Traffic Unit Investigator is not available, then an on-
duty Uniform Patrol Officer or a Supervisor will complete a long form Florida Traffic Crash
Report. If the crash meets the below criteria, the Traffic Unit Investigator may complete
an HPD “City Vehicle Damage Report”.
1. Total damage is less than five-hundred dollars ($500.00)
2. The only damage is to a City vehicle.
3. No other, non-city owned, vehicles are involved.
4. The City vehicle is still functional.
5. There are no injuries.
If the crash involving the City vehicle occurs outside of the city limits, but within Miami-
Dade County, an HPD Traffic Unit Investigator will respond to perform an internal
investigation. The Traffic Unit Investigator will ensure that the appropriate agency with
City Vehicle Crashes – SOP# 050
jurisdiction responds to complete the Florida Crash Report.
The investigator shall photograph the scene and complete the narrative detailing
damages, injuries, scene conditions and describing all contributing factors to the crash.
The investigator shall complete a Traffic Homicide Report if serious injuries or death occur,
and shall forward copies of photographs and reports to the City Manager via the chain of
command.
D. When a traffic crash occurs involving an HPD vehicle, the on-duty supervisor shall
complete the “Fleet Acc” report in RMS within twenty-four hours (24) of being notified. If
there are injuries to an employee, the supervisor must also complete a “First Report of
Injury or Illness” Worker’s Compensation form.
E. If the crash occurs outside of Miami-Dade County, the on-duty shift commander will notify
the Uniform Patrol Captain, or designee, who will determine if a Traffic Unit Investigator
should to respond.
F. The on-duty uniform supervisor will notify the City’s Risk Manager involving crashes that
result in bodily injury, death, or liability.
G. The Traffic Unit Supervisor will ensure an HPD City Vehicle Crash Report or Police Vehicle
Crash Report on all investigations they respond to involving a City vehicle is prepared.
H. The Traffic Unit Supervisor will then forward all completed reports with printed
photographs to the Office of the Chief of Police. This will include all outside agency reports.