Broward County Sheriff's Policy Manual PDF

SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 7.5 VEHICLE CRASH/DAMAGE: 7.5.1 Definitions: A. BSO vehicle: any vehicle owned, leased, rented, or borrowed by BSO, including motor vehicles, motorcycles, buses, ATVs, and motorized carts. Certain non- BSO vehicles may al...

SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 7.5 VEHICLE CRASH/DAMAGE: 7.5.1 Definitions: A. BSO vehicle: any vehicle owned, leased, rented, or borrowed by BSO, including motor vehicles, motorcycles, buses, ATVs, and motorized carts. Certain non- BSO vehicles may also be considered eligible for this section, including vehicles which are being operated by an on-duty employee for official purposes. B. Traffic crash: an unintentional collision involving a vehicle in transit and another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or fixed object. C. Traffic incident: occurrences involving in-transit BSO vehicles which are not consistent with standard traffic crashes. These incidents may include contact with roadway debris, guard gates, or hazardous conditions encountered as a result of the execution of assigned duties (e.g., flash floods or falling branches during hurricane deployment). D. Preventable: a traffic crash or traffic incident in which the driver, a BSO employee, failed to exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent. This may include collisions due to driver error or preventable equipment deficiencies (e.g., inadequate tire tread or windshield wipers due to missed maintenance). E. Non-preventable: a traffic crash or traffic incident in which the driver, a BSO employee, committed no driving error, reacted reasonably to the circumstances, and properly maintained equipment during traffic crashes and traffic incidents. F. Property Damage: damages sustained to a BSO vehicle or due to a BSO vehicle during non-collision events. This includes, but is not limited to, damages sustained during BSO-approved training or damages caused by shopping carts, vehicle doors, or debris. G. Non-contact incident: incidents indicating a BSO vehicle and/or driver contributed to a traffic crash; however, no contact was made with the BSO vehicle. 7.5.2 Reporting: A. Employees operating a BSO vehicle are responsible to immediately report any traffic crash, traffic incident, property damage, or non-contact incident to: Reviewed: 02/28/2022 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 12/07/2018 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.5 Page 1 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 1. The local law enforcement agency, for immediate response. 2. The local fire rescue agency, if applicable, for immediate response. 3. BSO Communications to notify the closest on-duty road patrol supervisor to respond. 4. The employee’s supervisor or an on-duty supervisor in the employee’s command. 7.5.3 Traffic Crash Investigations: A. Documentation: All BSO traffic crash investigations involving BSO vehicles will require the completion of a Florida Crash Report Long Form, regardless of reporting criteria. B. Assignment of investigation: traffic crash investigations will be assigned as follows: 1. Within Broward County: a. BSO District: BSO road patrol will be responsible for conducting traffic crash investigations involving BSO vehicles in their district. b. Non-BSO jurisdiction: The closest BSO district will be responsible for conducting traffic crash investigations involving BSO vehicles in non- BSO jurisdictions. c. Other agency-involved crashes: In the event a traffic crash involves a BSO vehicle and another agency’s vehicle, the on-scene BSO supervisor will request a third-party agency with jurisdiction (e.g. Florida Highway Patrol) to respond to conduct the investigation. Should third-party agencies be unable to respond, the agency with patrol responsibilities will conduct the traffic crash investigation. For investigations conducted by other agencies, the on-scene BSO supervisor will request the completion of a Florida Crash Report Long Form. Reviewed: 02/28/2022 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 12/07/2018 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.5 Page 2 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL d. Fatal and serious bodily injury traffic crashes: Traffic Homicide will investigate all fatal and serious bodily injury (substantial risk of death, serious personal disfigurement, or loss of limb/organ) traffic crashes involving BSO vehicles in Broward County. Traffic Homicide will serve as a liaison for all fatal and serious bodily injury crashes occurring in non-BSO jurisdictions. 2. Outside Broward County: The law enforcement agency with jurisdiction will be responsible for conducting the traffic crash investigation involving BSO vehicles. The on-scene employee will request the other agency to complete the Florida Crash Report Long Form. 7.5.4 Event Report Exceptions: A. Certain cases involving damage to or from BSO vehicles may be documented in an event report in lieu of a traffic crash report. These cases include: 1. Crimes: damages sustained during the commission of a crime (e.g. criminal mischief, burglary, vehicle theft) or during the necessary performance of duties (e.g. VIT maneuver). Damages will be listed in the original event report, classified under the appropriate offense category, not in a separate property damage report. Any additional information pertaining to the same case can be documented in a supplemental report (e.g. damage discovered during subsequent inspection by Fleet). 2. Damage: Damages sustained during non-criminal events, BSO- approved training, or traffic incidents may be documented in an event report, classified as Property Damage. Only one event report will be created per incident, and any additional information pertaining to the same case will be documented in a supplemental report. To qualify, cases must be considered for: 3. Property Damage: damages sustained to a BSO vehicle or due to a BSO vehicle during non-collision events. This includes damages caused by shopping carts, vehicle doors, or other incidents not suspected of criminal intent. Reviewed: 02/28/2022 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 12/07/2018 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.5 Page 3 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 4. Traffic incident: occurrences involving in-transit BSO vehicles which are not consistent with standard traffic crashes. These incidents may include contact with roadway debris, guard gates, or hazardous conditions encountered as a result of the execution of assigned duties (e.g. falling branches during hurricane deployment). These incidents must meet the following criteria for Property Damage classification: a. No damage to non-BSO property. The employee must notify the property owner and confirm that no damage was sustained. b. Non-disabling damage to the BSO vehicle c. No reported injuries B. Assignment of investigation: damage investigations will be assigned as follows: 1. BSO District: The district having patrol responsibilities will conduct both criminal and non-criminal investigations involving damages to BSO vehicles and complete the applicable event report (e.g. property damage, burglary, criminal mischief). 2. Non-BSO jurisdiction in Broward: a. For criminal cases involving damage to BSO vehicles, the law enforcement agency with patrol responsibilities will be requested to conduct the investigation. b. For non-criminal cases involving damage to BSO vehicles: i. DLE: The closest BSO district will conduct the investigation. ii. DOD: When damage occurs at a jail facility or during the course of the deputy’s assignment, detention deputies will conduct the investigation. If damage is caused by a prisoner during transport, deputies will complete an event Reviewed: 02/28/2022 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 12/07/2018 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.5 Page 4 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL report (new incident) or supplemental report (additional information related to existing case). Deputies will not delay or divert transport for the purpose of documentation. 3. Outside Broward County: The law enforcement agency with jurisdiction will be responsible to conduct the property damage investigation involving BSO vehicles. 7.5.5 Supervisor's Responsibility: A. Supervisors will be required to conduct an administrative evaluation of a traffic crash or property damage incident involving a BSO vehicle. The supervisor cannot have been involved as an operator or passenger in the vehicle. Assignment of investigation will be as follows: 1. Broward County: The closest on-duty supervisor or lieutenant will respond to the scene. Unit supervisors or lieutenants may respond if possible. 2. Outside Broward County: The closest on-duty supervisor or unit supervisor will be notified. If an employee is being transported to the hospital, the supervisor will respond to the scene if within the tri- county area. B. The supervisor will be responsible to: 1. Ensure a deputy or the appropriate law enforcement agency has been notified and is responding. 2. Ensure the appropriate fire rescue agency has been notified and is responding, if applicable. 3. Secure the employee's personal effects and BSO property, when necessary. 4. Notify Traffic Homicide, Internal Affairs, and Risk Management if the traffic crash involves a fatality, potential fatality, or serious bodily injury. Reviewed: 02/28/2022 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 12/07/2018 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.5 Page 5 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 5. Ensure the involved employee’s command has been notified. 6. Conduct an initial administrative evaluation of the incident with the available information, including, but not limited to: a. Speaking with the investigator, involved parties, and witnesses. b. Ensure the scene and all involved vehicles are photographed and all photographs are submitted to evidence.com. c. Review any reports or evidence pertaining to the damage (traffic crash report, event report, photos, etc.). d. If another agency conducted any part of the investigation, coordinate with them to obtain a copy of any investigative documents, photographs, and other evidence. e. Create a Vehicle Crash / Property Damage entry in BlueTeam. 7.5.6 Inspection and Repair: A. All BSO vehicles involved in a traffic crash or property damage incident will be brought in for inspection to a BSO Service Center by the employee assigned that vehicle within seven business days of the incident, if possible. This includes those vehicles with no visible damage. B. Leased vehicles will not be brought to a BSO Service Center for inspection. They will be inspected at the leasing company in accordance with the approved leasing agreement. C. If an employee is unable to bring the vehicle in within seven business days due to injury, illness, annual leave, etc., the employee's immediate supervisor will be responsible for ensuring the vehicle is brought in for inspection within the required time frame. D. Employees will be prohibited from having any vehicle repaired by any person or facility other than a BSO Service Center or approved leasing company, if applicable. Reviewed: 02/28/2022 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 12/07/2018 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.5 Page 6 of 6