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| Captain David WilsonDivision Commander |
It is the mission of the SAFE Division to review, enhance, and create department policies, improve safety through compliance with all mandates, reduce liability, decrease crime through statistical analysis and mapping, assist injured employees in their recovery and return to work and track employee performance to increase our commitment to excellence in service to the public.
The Risk Management Bureau works in close collaboration on legal issues with County Counsel and the County’s Risk Management Office, and acts as the Department’s liaison to the Grand Jury. The Bureau evaluates legislative mandates and policy and procedures, provides training to mitigate risk to the Department and its employees, and facilitates civil litigation that arises. The Bureau’s three, closely intertwined components include: the Civil Litigation Unit, the Workers’ Compensation Unit and the Safety Unit.
Civil Litigation
The Civil Litigation Unit processes and reviews liability claims made against the Department and its employees. These often include complaints of personnel injury and financial loss incurred during operations. This unit also works in close collaboration with the County Risk Management Office, and County Counsel, acts as liaison with the Grand Jury, evaluates policy and procedures, provides training to mitigate risk to the Department as well as to employee, and facilitates civil litigation. The unit is also staffed with the Department's Safety Officer, who works to ensure the Department complies with California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) regulations, County of Orange Safety and Loss Prevention policies, and other applicable regulations and standards.
Worker's Compensation
The Workers Compensation Unit processes, tracks, and monitors injuries/illness to ensure proper medical services are provided and employees are returned to duty in a timely manner. Interactive Processes are undertaken when employees can not perform their essential duties. The unit also provides customer service, facilitates the handling of claims, and serves as an advocate for injured employees.
Safety & Training
The Safety & Training Unit works to ensure the Department complies with all California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) regulations, County of Orange Safety and Loss Prevention policies, and other applicable regulations and standards. Additionally, this Unit designs and conducts employee safety training, conducts facility inspections, and operates as an advisor for making needed corrections.
The SAFE Bureau has been in place since October of 2008. It is comprised of one Lieutenant, three Sergeants and one Deputy. The unit is tasked with revision and creation of policies and procedures to bring the department up to industry standards utilizing the best practices available. The ultimate goal of the unit is to reduce the department’s exposure to liability and create a database system to be utilized by supervisors and managers to oversee the successes and areas of needed improvement within their units and divisions. A quick overview of how the SAFE Bureau develops policy and procedure is listed below. It is an extensive process and ensures all divisions and the different levels of personnel are consulted.
The Compliance Unit minimizes problems and related litigation by proactively monitoring, analyzing, and implementing strategies to comply with federal and state mandates and legislation.
The Statistical Tracking and Reporting Unit (S.T.A.R.), formerly the Crime Analysis Unit, was formed in November 2005. It is currently housed under the SAFE Division. There are five Research Analysts assigned to the Unit. The Statistical Tracking and Reporting Unit is under the supervision of a SAFE Sergeant. Crime Analysis is the most basic form of law enforcement analysis. Crime analysis allows an analyst to determine who is doing what to whom with its focus on crimes against persons and/or property. There are four types of analysis that are most often used by law enforcement analysts. They are:
The analyst’s duties include the following operations and investigations support: