I. DUTY OF MEMBERS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS

A. Members involved in a traffic accident, while operating their subsidized or a county-owned vehicle while either on official duty or off duty, shall immediately or as soon as practicable thereafter, notify or cause their office to be notified of the following:

1. Place of accident.

2. Extent of injuries to persons involved.

3. Extent of property damage.

B. Members shall obtain the following information in connection with the accident:

1. Name, address, driver's license number and insurance agent of operator of other car.

2. Names and addresses of all witnesses.

C. Members shall immediately or as soon as practicable thereafter, make a report to the department's Fiscal Services Division using applicable form.

D. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the General Order, members shall make immediate arrangements to have the damaged car removed from public view.

E. Members should not attempt to drive a damaged car to a garage unless the damage is only of a very minor nature.

F. Details and circumstances of the accident shall be reported in memorandum form to the Chief's Office by the member involved.

G. A vehicle that has been damaged in an accident and has not yet been repaired, shall not be operated on duty except with the written permission of the bureau or district commander.

II. PATROL SUPERVISOR'S RESPONSIBILITY

When available, a uniformed patrol supervisor shall respond to and oversee any traffic accident which involves members operating County owned or subsidized vehicles.

III. COMMANDING OFFICER'S RESPONSIBILITY

Commanding officers shall have the following duties whenever one of their men is involved in an accident:

A. Cause the accident to be investigated and prefer charges according to existing laws, policies and procedures.

B. Report the accident to the Chief's Office and have the member involved submit a memorandum of the accident to Chief's Office.

IV. WHEN A MEMBER IS INJURED

When a member is injured in an accident while in the performance of duty, the commanding officer shall submit applicable reports and proceed as required.

V. INJURY TO MEMBERS AS A PEDESTRIAN OR PASSENGER

Any member, who as a passenger or pedestrian, involved in an accident and receives injury shall as soon as practicable notify his/her commanding officer as to the extent of his or her injury, which may hamper the performance of official duties.

VICTOR V. VIERRA
CHIEF OF POLICE

(Amended: 02-02-90)