Sheriff's Policy Manual PDF

SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 7.7 TRAFFIC CRASH, TRAFFIC INCIDENT, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE REVIEW PROCESS 7.7.1 PROCEDURE: (unless otherwise noted in 7.7.2) A. First Line Supervisor: Supervisors will complete an administrative investigation pertaining to...

SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 7.7 TRAFFIC CRASH, TRAFFIC INCIDENT, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE REVIEW PROCESS 7.7.1 PROCEDURE: (unless otherwise noted in 7.7.2) A. First Line Supervisor: Supervisors will complete an administrative investigation pertaining to traffic crashes, traffic incidents, and property damage involving BSO vehicles and complete the BlueTeam entry. For cases occurring outside Broward County, a BSO case number, classified as Assist Other Agency, will be obtained from Communications. The supervisor will: 1. Review all evidence associated with the incident. 2. Attach all supporting reports, evidence, and/or links. 3. Enter employee, witness, and other involved party categories. 4. Include a brief synopsis of the events and findings. 5. Forward the BlueTeam entry to the next level of supervision for review. a. Supervisors must complete a draft entry before going off duty. b. Completed entries must be forwarded to the reviewing supervisor by the end of the supervisor’s next shift or before any leave or RDOs exceeding 24 hours. 6. Make recommended changes if requested by reviewing supervisor. B. Reviewing supervisor: Once received in BlueTeam, the reviewing supervisor will review and either approve or deny the entry. 1. If denied, the entering supervisor will make the appropriate changes and forward the entry back to the denying supervisor before going off duty. 2. Once approved, the reviewing supervisor will forward the BlueTeam entry to the involved employee with the following instructions: Reviewed: 08/20/2021 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 05/24/2016 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.7 Page 1 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL “This Vehicle Crash/Property Damage report is being forwarded to you in order to provide a voluntary response regarding what occurred during this incident. Any response provided is strictly voluntary and, should you choose not to provide a response, it will not be held against you. Should you elect to provide a voluntary response, it will be made a part of this administrative investigation and could be used in any subsequent disciplinary proceedings. You have five working days to return this entry to the sender.” 3. The reviewing supervisor will ensure the involved employee reviews the BlueTeam entry, is given an opportunity to provide a voluntary response, and returns the entry to the reviewing manager within five working days. 4. Post review, the reviewing supervisor will forward the BlueTeam entry to the division captain or director. 5. Make recommended changes, if directed by reviewing supervisor. C. Division captain or director: Once received in BlueTeam, the division captain or director will: 1. Review the entry in its entirety and make a recommendation of: a. “Preventable” as well as the reason supporting this determination, or b. “Non-preventable” as well as the reason supporting this determination 2. Submit the entry to the group “Command Completed – Vehicle Crash/Property Damage” and carbon copy the involved employee(s). 3. Make any recommended changes if directed by Internal Affairs or reviewing supervisor. D. Division of Internal Affairs will: 1. Conduct a quality assurance review of approved entries to at least ensure: Reviewed: 08/20/2021 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 05/24/2016 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.7 Page 2 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL a. The author was not involved. b. All required fields were completed. c. All required attachments were included. d. Any associated entries were created/started. e. The entry was approved by a manager other than the author. f. The involved employee was given an opportunity to provide a voluntary response g. The division captain or director recommended a disposition of Preventable or Non-Preventable. h. The involved employee(s) were carbon copied in BlueTeam. 2. Add the “Administrative” category to all associated evidence in evidence.com. 3. Accept the entry into the IAPro database, assigning it an appropriate case number. 4. Close entries involving non-preventable: a. Traffic crashes with no injuries b. Traffic incidents c. Property damage 5. Investigate and process any crashes involving fatal injuries as an Internal Affairs case. 6. Forward the following cases to the Department of Professional Standards: a. Traffic crashes with injuries. Reviewed: 08/20/2021 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 05/24/2016 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.7 Page 3 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL b. Preventable traffic crashes, traffic incidents, and property damage. E. Department of Professional Standards will: 1. Review all documentation, evidence, and circumstances surrounding presented cases. 2. If there is concurrence with the non-preventable finding, cases will be closed with no further action. 3. Issue a recommendation of counseling, driver awareness training, or discipline in accordance with the review guidelines to the subject employee via memo. 4. Present cases involving incapacitating injuries, fatalities, or proposed discipline of six days or greater to the Professional Standards Committee for review. F. The subject employee: 1. May appeal the finding of Preventable by sending the appeal request via memo to the Department of Professional Standards within 10 days of the receipt of the notice. 2. Will be offered the opportunity to attend the Crash Review Board to present their case. The employee may elect to send a representative or waive representation. G. Crash Review Board (CRB): The CRB will be provided access to evidence pertaining to cases under review, including IAPro/BlueTeam entries, incident and crash reports, investigative documents, and fleet records. Upon receipt of cases for review, CRB members will: 1. Consider all relevant information. 2. Present a determination whether the crash or incident was preventable or non-preventable to the Department of Professional Standards Executive Director. Reviewed: 08/20/2021 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 05/24/2016 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.7 Page 4 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL H. After review of the determination by the CRB, the Department of Professional Standards’ executive director or designee will render a final decision of Preventable or Non-preventable and issue a recommendation of counseling, driver awareness training, and/or discipline. All preventable crashes and traffic incidents will require the issuance of driver awareness training. I. Following notification of a recommendation for discipline, employees will be offered a pre-disciplinary conference with the Department of Professional Standards Executive Director or designee. The employee can elect to: 1. Waive the pre-disciplinary conference. 2. Attend the pre-disciplinary conference with the employee’s representation (unless representation is waived). This will be the employee’s opportunity to provide a voluntary statement, any mitigating factors, or additional evidence pertaining to the incident. 3. Appeal a decision involving disciplinary action in accordance with applicable bargaining unit agreements. J. Driver Awareness Training: subject employees determined to have been involved in preventable traffic crashes and traffic incidents will attend Driver Awareness Training within one year of notification. 7.7.2 Procedure - Fire Rescue: A. All traffic crashes, traffic incidents, and property damage involving Fire Rescue personnel will be forwarded to the Crash Review Board (CRB) for a determination. B. Employees will be given an opportunity to appear before the CRB with their union representative and witnesses to present their case. C. After employees, or their chosen representative, present their case, the CRB will render a decision. D. If the crash is deemed by the CRB as preventable, a recommendation of appropriate discipline will be issued by the Department of Professional Standards Reviewed: 08/20/2021 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 05/24/2016 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.7 Page 5 of 6  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL Director or designee in accordance with the system established in the preventable accident review guidelines. E. Following notification of the recommendation for discipline, employees will be offered a pre-discipline conference, which is the employee’s opportunity to be heard. The pre-discipline conference will be conducted by the Department of Professional Standards Director or designee with the employee and employee’s union representative. The employee can waive the conference and/or representation. F. Employees receiving disciplinary action may appeal in accordance with applicable bargaining unit agreements. Reviewed: 08/20/2021 Revised: 06/06/2023 Rescinds: 05/24/2016 Effective: 06/22/2023 7.7 Page 6 of 6