2022

Finalist | General Safety

Chesterfield County (VA) Police Department

State: VA

Resources

Chesterfield County (VA) Police Department | 2023 Traffic Safety Winner Video
Chesterfield County (VA) Police Department | 2022 Comprehensive Safety Nomination
Chesterfield County (VA) Police Department | 2022 Traffic Safety Nomination
Chesterfield County (VA) Police Department | 2023 Traffic Safety Nomination
Chesterfield County (VA) Police Department | 2023 Traffic Safety Executive Summary
Chesterfield County (VA) Police Department | 2023 General Officer Safety Nomination
Chesterfield County (VA) Police Department | 2023 General Officer Safety Executive Summary

 

Overview

2023 Officer Traffic Safety Winner

2023 and 2022 General Officer Safety Finalist

2022 Comprehensive Safety Finalist

Chesterfield County consists of 437 square miles and is home to 364,000 residents. The Chesterfield County Police Department (CCPD) chief, Col. Jeffrey S. Katz currently oversees 558 sworn officers, 138 non-sworn full-time employees and 57 part-time employees. The department achieved Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) accreditation in 1998 and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation in 2017.

CCPD operates a self-contained, 71-acre driving range where its members practice basic driving, skills driving, motorcycle training, skid pan driving, emergency vehicle operation (EVOC), and precision immobilization technique (PIT) training. It consists of a classroom, a 1.4-mile emergency vehicle operators’ course with four fully functioning traffic signals, an observation tower with a 360-degree view and state of the art traffic signal controls, the ability to restrict access during driving evolutions, a separate skid pan and skills pan area, a garage for minor vehicle repairs, and sheltered pavilions. The EVOC course is capable of training vehicle operations at speeds that exceed 100 mph. The facility operates approximately 300 days a year training current and recruit police officers. All officers receive biennial EVOC or pursuit training.

CCPD regulates vehicles pursuits by policy. Only vehicles equipped and utilizing full emergency equipment are permitted to participate in the pursuit of fleeing suspects. CCPD specifically prohibits pursuits when the identity of the suspect is known, they are not suspected of a serious or violent offence and are not an ongoing threat to public safety. A field supervisor must acknowledge the pursuit and establish supervisory control over the radio. A thorough examination of each pursuit is conducted by all participating officers, the controlling supervisor, and the relevant chain of command through the rank of major. Pursuit reviews are memorialized via BlueTeam, and each participant and supervisor must review all BWC footage and the radio WAV file. Policy violations and exemplary performance are documented in BlueTeam, and appropriate corrective actions or positive recognition are administered by the chain of command. The collective results of these pursuit reviews are analyzed annually. The annual examination is published with recommendations for changes in tactics, equipment, training, or policies.

CCPD supervisors participate in regional pursuit training for supervisors every few years. The purpose of this training, which involves the regional departments that share radio interoperability, is to share experiences and information regarding department policies and procedures as well as multi-jurisdictional considerations.

CCPD officers are trained in safe termination of vehicle pursuits. All officers are trained in the use of StopSticks tire deflation devices and the use of rolling roadblocks. Biennial driver training ensures officers are current with policy and best practices.

The department maintains an early warning system and strategy to help identify possible problem areas for members, including speeding. Supervisors are required to review BWC footage from all vehicle pursuits and use-of-force incidents, as well as a certain number of random recordings. Driving-related issues are investigated when discovered internally or reported externally. Every incident in which an officer or other employee is involved in a crash while operating a department vehicle is reviewed by the Crash Review Board (CRB). The CRB consists of supervisors assigned to the Office of Professional Standards, training, and operations. Preventable crashes can result in disciplinary actions, remedial or specialized training, or policy change recommendations. The data derived from the CRB is also looked at in aggregate at the end of each year. Any detected trends will result in additional or improved training or acquisition of improved equipment. No preventable accidents have occurred in the last three years due to speed.

CCPD recognizes safe driving by awarding a Safe Driving Ribbon to officers who go three years without a preventable vehicle crash. Officers receive a year pin for an additional three years without a preventable crash starting at year six.

CCPD has delivered Below 100 training to all sworn officers and 25 department instructors are qualified to teach the curriculum. The core tenets (Wear your belt; Wear your vest; Watch your speed; WIN – What’s Important Now; and Remember Complacency Kills!) are displayed prominently throughout CCPD’s facilities on Below 100 posters.

Department policy and 2.2.06, the state code for Virginia (46.2-1094), mandates that all department members shall always wear their safety belts while in county vehicles. Per policy all occupants of front seats who are 16 years or older are required to use safety lap belts and shoulder harnesses. Employees will face progressive discipline if they are found to have violated these mandates and employees throughout our organization understand and accept it.

National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training (TIMs) establishes a common set of practices and standards across all first responder disciplines to improve safety, quickly clear highways, and have consistent, interoperable communications. All CCPD officers have completed the in-person, four-hour course.

In 2021, CCPD started an emergency lighting program that reduces the distraction of a chaotic flash, called the “scene calming effect,” into our emergency equipment lighting. When the emergency equipment is on and the vehicle is in park, the flash pattern slows down; this reduces the distraction that draws driver attention away from the road. The department uses 3M reflective tape for conspicuity markings. This decal/tape reflects at wide angles and is highly durable. We outline the trunk and doors in white reflective tape, so they remain visible to traffic if open.

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This summary is only a brief overview of many of the agency’s programs. In the actual submission you will see that agency has other programs and incentives to benefit its members. Please review their entire submission and its associated documents to gain a complete understanding of their program.