Policy Text
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL N-5
OAKLAND POLICE 18 Sep 81
Index as:
Lost, Stolen, Damaged City Property
Prisoners, Damage to City Property
Property, Lost, Stolen, Damaged City
LOST, STOLEN, DAMAGED CITY PROPERTY
The purpose of this order is to set forth procedures for
investigating and reporting the loss, theft, or damage of City property, except money and personal safety equipment. References
concerning the excluded subjects are listed in Part V of this
order. Covered are losses, thefts, or damage caused by Departmental personnel, prisoners. and citizens.
I. DAMAGE, LOSS, THEFT OF CITY PROPERTY BY DEPARTMENTAL
PERSONNEL
set f A. Damage to police vehicles shall be reported in
accordance with applicable Departmental directives. The
damage or loss of other City property by Departmental personnel shall be reported in accordance with the procedures
orth below.
B. If a member or employee damages or loses property, he/she shall immediately advise his/her unit commander or independent section supervisor. Within 24 hours,
the commander/supervisor shall submit an interoffice
letter through channels to his/her bureau commander which
sets forth the following information. A copy of the letter
shall also be forwarded to the Planning Division.
1. The name and serial number of the member or employee
responsible.
2. The date and time of the damage or loss.
3. The nature, cause, and extent of the damage or loss. 4. A full description of the property, including serial
and asset numbers.
5. A statement as to whether or not the person re-
sponsible was careless or negligent.
C. The bureau commander concerned shall circumstances
surrounding the loss and as necessary, make appropriate
recommendations to the Chief of
I. D. Members and employees may be held financiallY responsible
for careless or negligent damage to, or loss of, City
property.
E. In the event that theft of City property by Departmental
personnel is suspected, procedures in Departmental
General Order M-3, COMPLAINTS AGAINST DEPARTMENTAL
PERSONNEL AND PROCEDURES, shall be followed.
II. DAMAGE, LOSS, THEFT OF CITY PROPERTY BY PRISONERS
A. If a prisoner damages a Departmental vehicle in a
nontraffic incident, the reporting officer shall complete
an offense report, which fully describes the damage, so
that restitution can be reguested. The report shall
indicate that extra copies are to be forwarded to the
City Attorney’s.Office and the Equipment Department. The
reporting officer shall submit the report to his/her
supervisor for approval prior to going off duty.
B. If a prisoner damages, loses, or steals City property in
a nonvehicular incident, or damages facilities, the commander/supervisor of the unit responsible for property
shall be notified immediately by the person who witnesses
or discovers the incident.
1. The commander/supervisor shall cause an immediate
investigation to be made, including photographs
and statements when appropriate. If damage to the
Police Administration Building is involved, the
commander/supervisor shall ensure that the Building
Engineer is notified at the earliest time.
2. Offense reports concerning such incidents shall be completed to indicate that three extra copies are to be
forwarded to the City Attorney’s Office.
a. Applicable serial and asset numbers shall be
included in the report with a full description
of any damage.
b. All pertinent information concerning the
prisoner’s residence and place of employment
shall be completed as fully as possible, to
facilitate the processing of claims by the
City Attorney’s Office.
I. DAMAGE, LOSS, THEFT OF CITY PROPERTY BY CITIZENS
A. If a citizen damages City property in a vehicular accident,
the incident shall be reported and investigated in
accordance with applicable Departmental directives. The
Traffic Division shall forward copies of the reports to the
City Attorney’s Office and the Equipment Department.
B If a citizen damages, loses, or steals City property in a
nonvehicular incident, the reporting officer shall complete the appropriate report and submit it to his/her supervisor
for approval prior to going off duty.
1. The report shall be completed to indicate that three
extra copies are to be forwarded to the City Attorney's Office.
2. If the property involved belongs to another City de-
partment, an extra copy shall also be indicated for that department unless an Outside Agency Report (536—
261.) is completed.
C. If the damaged City property poses a public hazard, the
assigned member shall so advise the Communications Division
and remain at the scene until properly relieved or until
temporary barriers are erected. The assigned member shall advise the Communications Division as to the specific need
for street barriers, temporary signs or other action.
D. When damaged City equipment poses a public hazard, the
Communications Division shall:
1. Notify the Electrical Department regarding any damage to electrical equipment or property (3331).
2. Contact the Traffic Engineering and Parking Division
during regular business hours to request temporary traffic signs
and barriers (3466).
3. After regular business hours, contact Fire Alarm the
security guard at the City Service Center to request
assistance in obtaining temporary signs and barriers. A
security guard is on duty 24 hours a day at the Service
Center, and a recorder takes messages when the guard is
away from the telephone. If it becomes necessary to
assign a police unit to pick up temporary signs and
barriers at the Service Center, such action shall be
coordinated with the security guard at the front
entrance.
DAMAGE TO