Policy Text
Page 1 of 5 – General Order 1-19 (10/25/19 )
ACCIDENT REVIEW BOARD
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: ACCIDENT REVIEW BOARD (ARB )
Chapter
1 Number
19 # Pages
5
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to describe the functions and composition of the Accident
Review Board (ARB) .
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This General O rder remains unchanged .
III. POLICY
It is the policy of the Richmond Police Department to ensure that all of its employees
maintain the highest degree of both professional and personal conduct and integrity toward
citizens as well as other Department members in the performance of their duties and
responsibilities. The ARB may convene to re view incidents, pursuits and loss or damage
involving the Richmond Police Department ’s property as directed by the Chief of Police .
All Department members may be subject to serve on a review board.
IV. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
All employees are expected t o fully comply with the guidelines and timelines set forth in
this General Order. Responsibility rests with the Division Commander to ensure that any
violations of policy are investigated and appropriate training, counseling and/or
disciplinary action is initiated.
This directive is for internal use only, and does not enlarge an employee’s civil liability in
any way. It should not be constructed as the creation of a higher standard of safety or care
in an evidentiary sense, with respect to third party c laims. Violation of this directive, if
proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department, and then only in a non -
judicial administrative setting.
References:
CALEA : 61.2.4
Related Orders: Effective Date: 10/25/19
Revised By: Review
Prv. Rev. Date: 09/28/16
Page 2 of 5 – General Order 1-19 (10/25/19 )
ACCIDENT REVIEW BOARD V. PROCEDURE
A. General Information :
The ARB shall review incidents, as directed by the Chief of Police, involving
Richmond Police Department employees and/or equipment resulting in either loss or
damage to equipment/vehicles or injuries to employees. The ARB shall be
established and shall advise the Chief of Police regarding whether such inciden ts
occurred within (henceforth referred to as “In Policy”) or outside (henceforth referred
to as “Out of Policy”) the Richmond Police Department’s General Orders and state,
federal and local laws, especially those concerning the operation of a vehicle in
emergency situations.
B. The primary objectives of the ARB are as follows:
1. To review accidents or property loss/damage involving Department members,
equipment and property ;
2. To review vehicle pursuits involving Department members;
3. To communicate safety is sues and problems to the Officer -In-Charge (OIC) of
the Training Division or any other applicable division, to enable corrective ,
remedial or additional training take place;
4. To determine whether an act or circumstance involving a Department member is
within or not within the norms of driving principles and practi ces, appropriate
federal, state and local motor vehicle laws, or “ In Policy” or “Out of Policy”;
and,
5. To forward all findings of “Out of Policy ” incidents , to the Disciplinary Review
Office for po ssible disciplinary measures or corrective actions.
C. Composition of t he Accident Review Board :
1. The ARB is a panel consisting of both Department and citizen members. It will
consist of up to five (5) voting members.
2. The Board’s Chairperson , the Captain of Special Operations Division (SOD) or
designee , shall ensure that all ARB members are notified of each meeting and
shall convene the ARB ’s meetings. The Richmond Police Department’s Safety
Officer will serve as support staff to the Board. The Board’s membership will
consist of the following:
a. Captain of Special Operations Division or designee , Chairperson ;
b. Traffic Lieutenant shall be designated Acting Chairperson when the
Chairperson is unavailable;
c. Administrative Traffic Sergeant (who shall retain all records );
d. A police peer member of equal rank; and
Page 3 of 5 – General Order 1-19 (10/25/19 )
ACCIDENT REVIEW BOARD e. A citizen member (graduate of the Citizen’s Police Academy) . The citizen
member shall not be an employee of the Richmond Police Department and
will receive an orientation about the review b oard and the applicable
Departmental policy.
f. Police Department’s Safety Officer – (ex-officio non -voting member);
g. Administrative General Counsel Sergeant (who shall present pursuits and
serve in a non -voting capacity).
3. Prior to serving on the ARB, citizen members shall execute, under oath, a
declaration on a form prescrib ed by the Department that the citizen member has
no financial or personal interest in the proceedings before the Accident Review
Board on which that citizen is participating.
4. In no event shall the number of citizen members sitting on the ARB exceed the
number of Richmond Police Department members on the board.
5. No member of any ARB shall disclose to any person the matters or individuals
discussed or the advice given by such board, except with th e express ed written
consent of the Chief of Police or designee .
6. The