NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT - New Albany, Ohio

other fixed objects, damaged rims and tires caused by striking curbs or other fixed
objects, and minor contact with other City owned vehicles. All damage to Police
Department vehicles will be investigated pursuant to Directive 5.2.3 for possible
disciplinary action.
E. When a vehicle is leaking or carrying hazardous materials and is involved in a traffic
crash, an officer should take extra precautions to prevent himself/herself and/or others
from exposure. The appropriate Fire Department shall be contacted immediately for
assistance. (see also Directive 2.2.3(c) and 18.1.9).
F. Two officers will be dispatched to the scene of a traffic crash when information is
received that a disturbance exists between parties.
G. When roadways are congested due to a traffic crash, the supervisor in charge, or his/her
designee, should contact the news media if a extended delay is expected to occur so that
motorists may be advised and take alternate routes.
H. When a vehicle is damaged to the extent towing is required, an officer will contact the
Dispatch Center who will notify the respective tow company using the established
callout procedures.
I. The shift supervisor may suspend the taking of officer-generated traffic crash reports
involving property damage when road conditions become poor, during snow/weather
emergencies, or other emergencies as declared by the Chief of Police. However, reports
will still be taken involving crashes resulting in death, injury, impaired drivers, hit and
run, or when City property/vehicles are involved. If practical, the on duty supervisor
should notify the local media to inform them that the Police Department has suspended
property damage traffic crash reporting during these periods.
J. Occasionally, a citizen will come to the Police Department to file a traffic crash report
(OH-1) after the vehicle(s) have been moved and information has been exchanged. It is
the policy of the New Albany Police Department not to take a traffic crash report (OH-1)
in such cases. Exceptions will be made for the following circumstances:
Single vehicle traffic crashes where property damage has occurred and the
operator of the vehicle drives directly to the Police Department to document the
traffic crash. For example, a motorist strikes a deer and instead of remaining
at the scene, he/she drives to the Police Department to report the traffic crash.
Hit skip accidents (on public or private property) where the other party has left
the scene, has not exchanged the required information, or has given false
information before leaving the scene. In such cases, an officer shall take a traffic
crash report (OH-1) and will begin an investigation.
Property damage traffic crashes wherein both parties arrive at the Police
Department together and request a report be taken. This situation will result in an
officer being assigned to take a traffic crash report (OH-1). However, if only one
of the two parties involved in the property damage traffic crash arrives at the
Police Department after the vehicles have been moved and information
exchanged, he/she will be advised that a report will not be taken and that he/she
should turn over the information to his/her insurance company.
Traffic crashes involving injury (ies), in which case a traffic crash report (OH-1) is
required.
2.2.3 Traffic Crash Scene Duties
A. Unless otherwise directed, the officer dispatched to the scene of a crash will be in charge
of and responsible for the crash investigation. The supervisor may reassign the
investigation to another officer for training purposes, due to the technical nature of the
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