Traffic crashes in Orange County

[Unregistered]

Does Orange County Sheriff’s Department work traffic crashes within their county or is that responsibility dumped on FHP to handle?

[Unregistered]

Does Orange County Sheriff’s Department work traffic crashes within their county or is that responsibility dumped on FHP to handle?

Orange County works ZERO crashes.

[Unregistered]

Anyone have the full story on why and when this was established? Any public documents or official documents signed by the sheriff or FHP as to why the Sheriff’s don’t work traffic accidents? Very bizarre on how that went down.

[Unregistered]

Anyone have the full story on why and when this was established? Any public documents or official documents signed by the sheriff or FHP as to why the Sheriff’s don’t work traffic accidents? Very bizarre on how that went down.

It's not bizarre at all. Sheriff Kevin Beary said "we're not working crashes" and that was that. He claimed it was because his deputies didn't have time to handle crashes when they had other calls to deal with and the State should take the responsibility. Of course, that's complete nonsense because other major metropolitan counties such as Broward, Palm Beach, Duval and Miami-Dade call have similar or higher call volumes and still manage to work crashes (using Community Service Officers for most of them). Also, the "state taking responsibility" is also ironic because Beary didn't turn responsibility for patrolling the county's lakes over to FWC (OCSO maintains a healthy Marine Patrol) or responsibility for EOD calls to the State Fire Marshal (they also have a robust Hazardous Devices/Bomb Squad).

The truth is, most crashes are not criminal in nature. They are simply civil infractions and the Sheriff saw a great opportunity to make FHP his Community Service Officers. Also, crashes are just a drain on resources, they aren't sexy like boats or robots so he saw no need to make them his agency's responsibility.

It was a brilliant move on his part, one I'm surprised other Sheriffs haven't emulated.

[Unregistered]

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office also works zero crashes. There are 10 Road Troopers in Ocala for 24/7 coverage. The public often has to wait hours for FHP to respond due to very low staffing and the Sheriffs refusal to work crashes.

[Unregistered]

It's not bizarre at all. Sheriff Kevin Beary said "we're not working crashes" and that was that. He claimed it was because his deputies didn't have time to handle crashes when they had other calls to deal with and the State should take the responsibility. Of course, that's complete nonsense because other major metropolitan counties such as Broward, Palm Beach, Duval and Miami-Dade call have similar or higher call volumes and still manage to work crashes (using Community Service Officers for most of them). Also, the "state taking responsibility" is also ironic because Beary didn't turn responsibility for patrolling the county's lakes over to FWC (OCSO maintains a healthy Marine Patrol) or responsibility for EOD calls to the State Fire Marshal (they also have a robust Hazardous Devices/Bomb Squad).

The truth is, most crashes are not criminal in nature. They are simply civil infractions and the Sheriff saw a great opportunity to make FHP his Community Service Officers. Also, crashes are just a drain on resources, they aren't sexy like boats or robots so he saw no need to make them his agency's responsibility.

It was a brilliant move on his part, one I'm surprised other Sheriffs haven't emulated.

Normally, a citizen involved in an accident is a local citizen, a constituent, with no criminal intent. If the local is cited for an infraction, the sheriff does not want to be bothered with trying to solve the wounded feelings of his neighbors (read voters.)

[Unregistered]

Anyone have the full story on why and when this was established? Any public documents or official documents signed by the sheriff or FHP as to why the Sheriff’s don’t work traffic accidents? Very bizarre on how that went down.

It's called politics.

[Unregistered]

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office also works zero crashes. There are 10 Road Troopers in Ocala for 24/7 coverage. The public often has to wait hours for FHP to respond due to very low staffing and the Sheriffs refusal to work crashes.

It's an antiquated system in need of a reboot. There is no statistical, law enforcement or practical need for a sworn LEO to fill out a crash report. A task for nonsworn at best. Changing the way things are done could give rise to a whole new industry. Who you gonna call? Acme Report Takers! It would give H&R Block something to do in the off season. Give to to Uber. They could fill out reports and give you a ride home. Let police do police work. Traffic Crash Consultant is not police work.

[Unregistered]

I, too, have always wondered how it came to be that FHP works differently around the state. Why is it that in some areas, FHP only works state roads and interstates but in other places we work crashes in neighborhoods and out in the woods?

Also, it seems like no matter who the sheriff is in counties like Orange, Marion, Pasco, etc, they will never work crashes. Why is that?

[Unregistered]

Normally, a citizen involved in an accident is a local citizen, a constituent, with no criminal intent. If the local is cited for an infraction, the sheriff does not want to be bothered with trying to solve the wounded feelings of his neighbors (read voters.)

The not working car crashes mantra started before Kevin Beary. Lawson Lamar and Walt Gallagher also refused to allow their deputies to work wrecks.