Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER:
G - 38
GENERAL ORDER
RESCINDS:
SUBJECT: Injury or Loss to Citizens
EFFECTIVE: November 14, 1994
REVISED: April 8, 2020
Table of Contents:
I. Purpose
II. Scope
III. General
IV. Definition
V. Procedures
I. PURPOSE:
The purpose of this directive is to provide procedures in the event a citizen is injured or suffers property damage or
loss while present at a facility maintained by the Sheriff's Office. This includes any circumstance of injury or loss
where a citizen may make a claim against the Sheriff's Office or one of its employees, or at a function in which the
Sheriff's Office is participating and the injury or loss could possibly be attributed to the agency.
II. SCOPE:
Incidents involving injury or property damage suffered by a citizen under the circumstances described in Chapter I
must be investigated in order to determine causative factors. It is not the purpose of this directive to provide
procedures for incidents arising from traffic crashes, the use of force, injury or loss that occurs to a person in
Sheriff's Office custody, or Workers' Compensation situations. Procedures for such incidents are delineated in
specific directives addressing those topics. Nothing in this policy or the procedures described herein is intended,
nor should be construed, as an admission of liability for any damages or loss suffered by any citizen who is injured
or suffers property damage or loss while present at a facility maintained by the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff’s
Office preserves any and all defenses to any claim or cause of action that may arise from such events resulting in
injury or loss by any person.
III. GENERAL:
In the event an injury occurs to an agency volunteer while he/she is engaged in a Sheriff's Office activity, the
incident shall be processed by a supervisor according to the procedures established for Workers' Compensation
incidents.
IV. DEFINITION:
Citizen:
Defined as any person who is not an employee, agency volunteer, or prisoner/inmate in Sheriff's Office custody.
V. PROCEDURES:
A. Any incident of injury or loss to a citizen as described in Chapter I will be investigated by a Sheriff's
GENERAL ORDER
Injury or Loss to Citizens
GO # 38 PAGE 1 OF 3\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nOffice supervisor who is not directly involved in the incident:
1. If the incident occurs at the Sheriff's Office's Central Operations Complex, the investigating
supervisor shall be the supervisor responsible for security of the complex, or other person as
determined by the Chief of the Department of Law Enforcement. ;
2. If the incident occurs at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility, the investigating supervisor will
be from the Department of Corrections;
3. If the incident occurs at any of the controlled office spaces at the Criminal Justice Center, Civil
Courthouse, or the Juvenile Courthouse, the investigating supervisor will be from the
Department of Corrections or Judicial Security. .
4. If the incident occurs at a Region Service Center or at any location or activity where the Sheriff's
Office is participating, the investigating supervisor will be a Division/Region supervisor;
5. If the incident occurs at the Juvenile Assessment Center, or at one of its collateral program sites,
the investigating supervisor will be a supervisor assigned to Youth Intervention Services.
B. Procedures to be observed by on-scene agency personnel are as follows:
1. Employees will not give any verbal or written statement regarding responsibility for any loss or
injury except to the investigating supervisor.
2. Employees will administer first aid within the limits of their training, and summon emergency
medical personnel if necessary or if requested by an injured person.
3. The response of an investigating supervisor will be requested. The supervisor will thoroughly
investigate the incident and perform the following duties:
a. Ensure that medical aid is provided, if required;
b. Record in his/her report if the injured citizen refuses medical treatment or other
assistance;
c. Interview the citizen and all witnesses to the incident;
d. Inform a parent, guardian or other adult responsible for the juvenile, if a juvenile is
involved;
e. Obtain signed statements from the citizen and witnesses (including Sheriff's Office
personnel), if possible;
f. Ensure that any evidence is collected and preserved and photograph the physical scene
of the incident if one exists (the determination as to the existence of a scene will be
based upon the presence of any object, geographical layout, location of equipment, or
other factor that could have possibly contributed to the injury or loss). If a scene exists
and on-scene photography by the supervisor is not practicable, the Crime Scene
Section will be directed to respond and assume this responsibility. The existence of
photographs will be noted in the report;
g . In the case of serious injury or unusual circumstances direct the Communications
Division to make chain-of-command notifications, including the Sheriff; and,
h . Submit a written memorandum through their chain of command to their respective
GENERAL ORDER
Injury or Loss to Citizens
GO # 38 PAGE 2 OF 3\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nDepartment Chief. A copy of the memorandum will also be provided to the Chief
Counsel’s office.
i. In addition, in circumstances where the injury or loss appears to be, or may be
significant, the investigating supervisor will immediately contact a member of the
Office of Chief Counsel via telephone.
GENERAL ORDER
Injury or Loss to Citizens
GO # 38 PAGE 3 OF 3