Policy Text
ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
GENERAL ORDER
Effective Date: August 29, 2019 Amends GO 20.1.14 ( October 19, 2018 ) Number: 20.1.14
Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: October Reviewing Authority:
SSD / Quality Assurance
Subject: Crash Review Committee (CRC)
This order consists of the following:
1. Purpose
2. Policy
3. Definitions
4. Procedures
1. Purpose
The purpose of Crash Review Committee (CRC) is to review and evaluate traffic crash es
involving agency vehicles in an attempt to reduce injuries and property loss stemming
from traffic crash es.
2. Policy
It is the policy of the agency that traffic crash es involving agency vehicles be evaluated
to determine their causes . The CRC shall identify training needs and offer
recommendations to minimize such occurrences in the future . The CRC shall attempt to
determine if a traffic crash is avoidable or unavoidable . If the traffic crash is avoidable it
will designate the traffic crash as mino r or major .
3. Definitions
A. Agency Form 10 -1451 ( Green Sheet ) – An agency document to be completed
with any traffic crash, traffic incident, any damage or loss of agency property, or
any public liability claim. Step -by-step instructions f or completing the Green Sheet
can be found in TB 00-2.
B. Agency Vehicle - A vehicle owned, leased, rented, or borrowed by the agency.
C. Apprehension or Intervention Technique(s) – Traffic crashes as a result of a
vehicle apprehension technique (tactical park, diversionary traffic stops, tire
deflation devices, stationary roadblocks or other approved tactics) or a Pursuit
Intervention Techn ique (PIT) will not be subject to review by the CRC.
D. Avoidable Traffic Crash - a traffic crash that has been determined to be
preventable by actions or inactions of the involved employee. Avoidable traffic
crashes will be classified as minor or major . If the CRC classifies a traffic crash
as avoidable, the traffic crash will be subject to review by the employee’s chain of
command. The employee’s chain of command will administer , if applicable, any
administrative action and/or discipline in accordance with the Traffic Crash M atrix
in GO 9.1.11 , Traffic Crashes Involving Agency Vehicles.
20.1.14 , Page 2 of 7
E. Crash Review Committee (CRC ) – a committee appo inted by the Sheriff
responsible for reviewing traffic crash es involving agency vehicles .
F. CRC Chairperson – a Captain or designee , assigned to the Qu ality Assurance
Section, shall chair the CRC and be responsible for scheduling, reporting the
CRC ’s findings, and disseminatin g other information .
G. Major Traffic Crash: A traffic crash which the CRC has determined has the
potential for serious bodily injury or property damage or is investigated by
Professional Standards due to serious bodily injury o r death.
H. Minor Traffic Crash - A traffic crash which the CRC has determined does not have
the potential for serious bodily injury or property damage.
I. Traffic Crash – An event involving personal injury, death, property damage, or
possible public liability claim resulting from the operation of an agency vehicle or
property damage resulting from another vehicle striking an agency vehicle.
J. Traffic Incident – An event in which an agency vehicle makes contact with an
inanimate object (non-vehicle) and there is:
1. no personal injury, death, property damage or possible public liability claim
resulting from the operation of an agency vehicle,
2. damage (e.g. bent rims, damaged side mirrors) to an employee’s agency
vehicle from an intentional act which occurred when the employee was
taking law enforcement action while engaged in the lawful performance of
his/her duties, as documented and approved by the chain of command, or
3. damage to an agency vehicle which occurred during scheduled agency
training. If the event occurs as a result of willful and reckless behavior
outside the scope of the training, the event will be subject to supervisor
review with the appropriate administrative action and/or discipline imposed
in accordance with GO 5.1.0 Discipline and GO 5.1.2 Internal Complaints
Investigative Procedures.
K. Unavoidable Traffic C rash – a traffic crash that cannot be foreseen or anticip ated
in the exercise of reasonable care. Unavoidable traffic crash es are not classi fied
as minor or major .
4. Procedures
A. Responsibilities of the CRC
1. The CRC shall gather all available information that is pertinent about each
assigned traffic crash involving an agency vehicle. The CRC shall
evaluate the information to try to determine the cause of the traffic crash .
The CRC shall identify traffic crash trends and recommend preventative
methods for loss control /safety purposes. The CRC shall report its findings
to the Human Resources Division Commander or designee , the employee
and the Division Commander of the involved employee .
2. The Green Sheet will be completed for traffic crashes and forwarded to
20.1.14 , Page 3 of 7
Risk Management. Risk Management will forward the information for all
traffic crashes involving death or serious injury to Professional Standards
to investigate. All other traffic crashes will be forwarded to the CRC. The
CRC will determine if th ose traffic crash es