NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT - New Albany, Ohio

The supervisor will designate one officer in charge and may request off duty personnel or
resources from other law enforcement agencies. The supervisor will ensure that
photographs are taken and may utilize a video camera. In a crash(es) that result in a
fatality(ies), the supervisor will notify the Chief of Police as soon as possible.
B. In cases of hit and run traffic crashes on either public or private property, the reporting
officer will conduct a follow-up investigation. He/she may utilize officers from another
shift, as needed. The investigating officer shall collect and preserve any physical
evidence from the scene and any involved vehicle(s) for possible comparison with any
located suspect vehicle.
C. If a person involved in a traffic crash is found to be impaired due to alcohol or drugs,
he/she will be asked to submit to a standard field sobriety test. This includes the
collection of blood evidence in the case of a person who is transported to a medical
facility for treatment (see Directive 2.1.9).
D. 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 other 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 an employee is
involved in a serious injury or fatal traffic crash.
If an employee, while operating a City vehicle, is involved in a traffic crash with another
vehicle resulting in damage, however slight, an OH-1 and New Albany Incident Report
will be completed. The OH-1 will be completed by an officer designated by the on duty
supervisor and the New Albany 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.
If an employee is involved in a single vehicle crash with a City vehicle and the
combined damage is less than $500.00, the on duty supervisor may refer to the
Ohio Traffic Crash Procedure Manual to determine whether the crash meets the
definition of a traffic crash requiring the use of an OH-1.
If the employee involved is an on duty police officer, a Letter of Official Duties
Certification will be prepared by the Police Clerk indicating that the officer was on duty
and acting in his/her official capacity (see O.R.C. §3937.41 (D)). The letter should
include reference to O.R.C. §3937.41 (D), the officer’s name, operator’s license number,
Social Security number, date of birth, accident date, report number, vehicle information,
and the duties the officer was performing. The letter will be on official letterhead, signed
by the Chief of Police, and attached to the OH-1 before it is sent to:
Ohio Department of Public Safety
Traffic Crash Records Section
P.O. Box 182081
Columbus, OH 43218-2081
All other damage to Police Department vehicles will be documented to the on duty
supervisor. This includes property damage, scrapes caused by branches, poles, or
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