051 - OPERATION AND CARE OF POLICE VEHICLES

OPERATION AND CARE OF POLICE VEHICLES EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/01/97 STANDARD NO. 051 REVISED: 03/07/2022 REPLACES: SOP Operation and Care of Police Vehicle 15-02.1-3 – Rev. 01/01/03; Rev. 06/06/12; Rev. 05/05/2021 OBJECTIVE: To establish a policy for the operation and care of police vehicles. POLICY: It is the policy of the Homestead Police Department (HPD) for all employees to safely operate and care for vehicles under their control. SCOPE: All employees of this Department shall be governed by the procedures set forth below. I. PROCEDURES: A. Vehicle Operation: 1. Officers utilizing Departmental vehicles will adhere to the following procedures. a. Police vehicles shall be operated in a safe and courteous manner to prevent accidents, injuries, property damage, and promote good public relations. b. Police units while parked, stopped, or in motion, shall obey all provisions of Florida Statutes, local ordinances, and rules and regulations of the Department unless such vehicle is in an emergency mode of operation, and then such vehicles shall comply with applicable laws and procedures pertaining to such operation. c. While in a police vehicle, officers and all passengers shall secure their safety belt properly about their person while the vehicle is being driven. d. During their tour of duty, an officer shall not occupy the cargo area of pick- up trucks without obtaining the approval from their supervisor. Special circumstances may warrant such use and it will be the officer and supervisor’s responsibility to ensure all safety precautions are taken to prevent injury to the officer or another person. e. The proper operation and handling of police vehicles is of extreme importance since officers cannot be of assistance at the scene of an emergency if they do not arrive safely at the scene. f. Unmarked police vehicles, motorcycles, and other specialized police vehicles designated for highway use and equipped with siren and other emergency lights should engage in pursuit only under extreme Circumstances and then only until such time as assistance can be obtained from a marked police vehicle bearing emergency lights and siren. g. Officers shall not operate a police vehicle with the brake lights deactivated. h. Officers responding to a call or on patrol at night or during periods of poor visibility (less than 1000 feet) who extinguish their head lamps and tail lamps, to aid in a (stealth) approach, shall do so using extreme caution, and with due regard for any special hazard which may exist so that life and property are not endangered. i. Department identification and a valid Florida driver’s license will be carried when operating Department vehicles, except for officers operating in an undercover capacity. Revocation or suspension of driving privileges shall be immediately reported by the employee to their supervisor or if off duty at the time of notification, to the on duty supervisor. j. Should an officer’s vehicle become damaged in a non-accident situation, they shall immediately notify their supervisor or, if the damage occurred while off duty, an on duty supervisor shall be notified. All necessary reports and paperwork shall be completed as soon as practicable. k. Departmental Vehicle assignments are strictly monitored and will be controlled by the designated Fleet Supervisor and the Chief of Police, or designee. There will be no unauthorized swapping of vehicles and all vehicle re-assignments require the prior approval of the Fleet Supervisor and the Chief of Police, or designee. l. When an employee is permanently assigned or re-assigned a departmental vehicle, a Vehicle Inspection Worksheet will be completed by the employee prior to using the vehicle and forwarded to the Fleet Supervisor. All vehicles will be clean and in an acceptable condition. If the vehicle being assigned is in an unacceptable condition, notify the Fleet Supervisor. m. Employees shall not leave vehicles unattended with the keys in the ignition, nor leave motors idling for extended periods of time (K-9 exempt) unless the emergency lights are being used. n. To help ensure everybody’s safety, the rear passenger compartment of a departmental vehicle shall be thoroughly searched for weapons and contraband prior to placing any person, who is not a departmental employee, into a departmental vehicle. The passenger compartment shall be searched for weapons and contraband immediately following that person’s removal from the vehicle.