Policy Text
San Francisco Police Department 2.06
GENERAL ORDER Rev. 09/ 04/24
Eff. 10/ 19/24
Page 1 of 5
Vehicle Crashes Involving Employees
2.06.01 PURPOSE
The San Francisco Police Department stands for Safety with Respect for all. It is the San Francisco Police Department’s policy to ensure that employees of the San Francisco Police Department exhibit the highest level of professionalism while performing their duties, providing services to the public, and enforcing the laws in a fair, impartial, and ethical manner. Department employees hold a position of trust with the public which requires safe and proper
vehicle operation to maintain safety for all road users.
This order outlines policy and procedures for report ing vehicle crashes, either on or off duty,
whether inside or outside the City and County of San Francisco while operating a department
vehicle. The proper reporting and investigation of c rashes involving Department personnel
increases transparency , accountability , and allows the Department to build and maintain public
trust.
2.06.02 DEFINTIONS
Employees – All San Francisco Police Department personnel including sworn and professional
staff.
Member - A sworn member of the San Francis co Police Department .
Crash - An unplanned/unintended event involving a vehicle in transport upon a highway or
private property, resulting in property damage, injury, or death.
Department Vehicle - A vehicle owned, leased, or rented by the City and County of San
Francisco authorized for official Department use. Department vehicle types include automobiles, trucks, passenger vans, motorcycles , bicycles, and other specialized vehicles.
2.06.03 POLICY
Department personnel are required to report their involvement in a vehicle c rash while operating
a department vehicle or while operating a privately owned vehicle that has been authorized for
official Department use, whether on duty or off duty. Department personnel are also reminded to follow the City and County Employee Handbook while operating a department vehicle.
DGO 2.06
Rev. 09/04/24
Eff. 10/19/24
Page 2 of 5 2.06.04 PROCEDURES
A. WITHIN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO:
All Personnel’s Responsibilities:
1. Remain at the crash scene until a supervisor arrives. In except ional cases all personnel
may leave when articulable facts exist that leaving the scene is necessary to prevent the
imminent loss of life or prevent great bodily injury.
2. When it is safe to do so, check for injuries of all individuals involved in the c rash, request
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and render first aid if needed .
3. Notify the Department of Emergency Management (DEM). If the Department employee
is incapacitated, the first responding officer shall notify DEM as soon as practical . DEM
will ensure a supervisor is assigned to respond to the scene.
4. Department personnel involved in a c rash, when possible, will attempt to locate and
secure witnesses for the investigating officer. Employees may identify witnesses but
should not conduct a c rash investigation interview.
5. Department employees shall not investigate their own c rashes.
Sworn Supervisor’s Responsibilities:
1. Respond to the scene of the c rash.
2. Assign a c rash investigation trained member to complete a traffic report. The member
completing the c rash investigation should be from a different District or Unit than the
involved member.
3. Ensure statements are taken from all involved parties and witnesses.
4. Direct and confirm a search for video cameras is conducted. When camera locations are identified , direct and supervise the effort to collect captured video of the c rash. Private
residences, commercial , government buildings and MUNI vehicles are examples of
locations where video cameras may be located.
5. Determine if any of the involved members were equipped with Body Worn Cameras (BWC) and activated as required pursuant to Department General Order (DGO) 10.11,
Body Worn Cameras. Review any video captured on BWC and document findings in the supervisor’s crash investigation report.
6. Determine if the involved member (driver) must respond to a chemical screening test.
(See DGOs 2.02 Alcohol Use by Sworn Department Members and 2.03 Use of Intoxicants
or Drugs by Sworn Department Members )
DGO 2.06
Rev. 09/04/24
Eff. 10/19/24
Page 3 of 5
The investigating officer and/or supervisor on scene will determine if the involved
vehicle(s) shall be towed for investigation. All applicable tow authorities, as listed in the
California Vehicle Code, and tow procedures outlined in DGO 9.06, Vehicle Tows , will
be followed.
B. OUTSIDE THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO:
All Personnel’s Responsibilities:
Remain at the crash scene until the initial investigation is complete, or until all information is
exchanged as required by 20001 CVC, or in an extenuating circumstance where articulable facts
exist that requires leaving the scene to prevent the imminent loss of life or prevent great bodily
injury. If t his condition occurs, respond immediately to the local police station to file a crash
report. When it is safe to do so, check for injuries of all individuals involved in the c rash, request
the response of EMS if needed , and render first aid to others if needed .
1. As soon as practical, notify the agency in the jurisdiction where the crash occurred.
Request the agency respond to the scene to investigate and complete a c rash report.
In the event the outside agency does not respond to the scene or make a report, make sure