NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT - New Albany, Ohio

Police is responsible for the approval of all oral and written reprimands and suspensions of five
days or less. The Chief of Police will forward his/her recommendations of suspension(s) of six
days or greater, demotion(s), or termination(s) to the City Manager for final consideration.
Upon completion of an investigation, the complainant shall be contacted by the investigating
supervisor and informed of the results of the investigation. The Chief of Police will ensure that a
follow-up letter is sent to the complainant. A copy of this letter shall also be given to the
involved employee(s). Any complainant who wishes to appeal the disposition of the complaint
shall be referred to the Chief of Police. If the complainant is still unsatisfied, he/she will be
referred by the Chief of Police to the City Manager.
5.2.3 Crashes Involving City Owned Vehicles
A. If a Police Department employee is involved in a traffic crash while on duty, he/she will
immediately notify the on duty shift supervisor and, if necessary, medical personnel. This
includes Police Department employees operating City owned vehicles on City streets,
private property, or foreign jurisdictions. The on duty shift supervisor will respond to the
scene of the crash to assess the damage and take photographs.
In the event that an on duty employee of the City is involved in a traffic crash while
operating a City owned vehicle and serious injury or death has occurred or may occur,
the on duty shift supervisor will contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol or the Franklin
County Sheriff’s Office to complete the traffic crash investigation. As defined in Directive
6.1.3, the on duty shift supervisor will contact the Chief of Police when a City employee is
involved in a serious injury or fatal traffic crash.
If an employee, while operating a City owned vehicle, is involved in a traffic crash with
another vehicle resulting in damage, however slight, a traffic crash report (OH-1) and City
Incident Report will be completed. The OH-1 will be completed by an officer designated
by the on duty supervisor and the City Incident Report will be completed by the employee
involved in the crash.
A traffic crash report (OH-1) may be taken in crashes involving City owned vehicles
that result in minor property damage (under $500.00 combined) to public or private
property (excluding other vehicles). An OH-1 will be taken when a City vehicle is
involved in a traffic crash and there is an injury or a request is made by an involved
party.
All damage to Police Department vehicles will be reported and documented to the on
duty supervisor. This includes property damage, scrapes caused by branches, poles, or
other fixed objects, damaged rims and tires caused by striking curbs or other fixed
objects, and minor contact with other City owned vehicles.
B. An investigation will be conducted by the involved employee’s supervisor for any crash
when an employee is at fault and/or negligent that results in damage of $500.00 or more.
For crashes resulting in less than $500.00 damage, the involved employee’s supervisor
will use his/her discretion when deciding to pursue an investigation that may result in
disciplinary action. The Chief of Police may order a disciplinary investigation for any
crash involving a City owned vehicle.
C. Pursuant to CBA Article 18 (Section 18.4), sworn union employees may be tested
following a traffic crash in which the member is at fault and that results in injury to
persons or when in the opinion of the Chief of Police (or his/her designee), substantial
damage to property occurs. In such circumstances, the on duty supervisor shall obtain a
urine or breath sample from the sworn union employee for testing/analysis. A positive
test result will result in disciplinary action (as outlined in CBA Section 18.6). The process
and rights of sworn union employees to be tested under this directive are outlined in CBA
Section 18.5.
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