FAIRFAX COUNTY’S SELF-INSURANCE POLICY PROVES EFFECTIVE - Frivolous Settlements By Private Insurers Leave Wrong Impressions

Sep 30, 2026

Fairfax County’s self-insurance policy is shown as effective in a precedent-setting civil-rights matter involving police officers, with a lawsuit alleging misconduct dismissed with prejudice. The coverage links the county’s approach to improved officer morale and reduced public misimpressions created by pre-trial settlements by private insurers. It also reports a new officer survival film series that recreates incidents to train officers and recruits on managing high-risk encounters, including armed, barricaded, and felony stop scenarios.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

FAIRFAX COUNTY’S SELF-INSURANCE POLICY PROVES EFFECTIVE

Frivolous Settlements By Private Insurers Leave Wrong Impressions

NEW FILM SERIES DEALS WITH OFFICER SURVIVAL

ABA SUPPORTS COUNSEL IN GRAND JURY ROOM: OPPOSES CONSENSUAL IMMUNITY

Vol.12 No.35 # FAIRFAX COUNTY’S SELF-INSURANCE POLICY PROVES EFFECTIVE ## Frivolous Settlements By PrivateInsurers Leaves Wrong Impressions In a precedent-setting case that never wentto trial,the County of Fairfax,Virginia,hasdemonstrated that self-insuring itself for theactions of police officers can work. The County's self-insurance policy is alsoworking to improve the morale of police officers,who were disillusioned with the willingness ofprivate insurers to settle frivolous and unmeri-torious civil cases before trial,leaving citizenswith the impression that the officers were“guilty of wrongdoing.” A$1-million law suit alleging civil rightsviolations on the part of Fairfax County PoliceOfficer Thomas R.Kreitzer,Police Chief Col.Richard A.King,and the County of Fairfax wasdismissed with prejudice on August 29 by thecomplainant. The lawsuit,filed by John Hertzog,25,ofFalls Church,Virginia,stemmed from an inci-dent which occurred on September 13,1977,on four-lane Route 7 in McLean.During theincident Officer Kreitzer received a compressionfracture of the back and Hertzog was shot twicein the stomach and leg. The lawsuit was the first shooting case to gothrough the civil court process since the Countybecame self-insured in August,1977.The Police A Comprohensive and Independent News Summary for the Law Enforcement Professional September 4,1978 Backing Up The Troops In Fairfax .......1Officer Survival Film Offered by MTI......2ABA Supports Counsel In Grand Jury Room...2Justice Department Doesn't .........4Deserter Bounties Increase Proposed. ...4Norfolk Consents To Hire More Blacks and Women .5AFT Uses Explosives Law In Arson Case.....6Manpower Saving Move In Montgomery County..7More On The IACP Conference........7McLaren Retiring As Arlington Chief......8Chicago PD Developes Evidence Kit .....9LEAA Grants.. ..... ....9 -NEXT WEEK- Highlights of testimony of Glen D.King,Executive Director of the IACP and Patrick V.Murphy,President of the Police Foundationbefore the United States Senate's JudiciaryCommittee's Subcommittee on Criminal Lawsand Procedures on the proposed reauthoriza-tion and reorganization of the Law Enforce-ment Assistance Administration. ## NEW FILM SERIES DEALSWITH OFFICER SURVIVAL In 1977,109 police officers were killed andcountless others were injured in the line of duty.In many cases,their deaths could have beenavoided if they had followed proper operatingprocedures.OFFICER SURVIVAL,a new 3part film training series from MTI,was developedby the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Departmentin response to the continued increase in assaultson police officers. Recreated actual incidents are used to showin-service officers and recruits the practical reali-ties of life and death situations.OFFICERSURVIVAL is designed to teach these officershow to anticipate and deal effectively with po-tentially fatal situations. Pierce R.Brooks,author and project devel-oper of...OFFICER DOWN,CODE 3,saysabout OFFICER SURVIVAL;"With my greatinterest in this subject,believe me when I say thisseries is must viewing."In each part of the pro-gram,the way in which a situation was actuallyhandled is shown,questions are asked,and thenthe incident is replayed showing correct operat-ing procedures. ARMED SUSPECT,a 6minute film,dealswith a fatigued officer,late in his patrol shift.Key points covered include fatigue and how itaffects performance,approach techniques,useof cover,expecting the unexpected,use of themicrophone and outside speaker,use of light,placing the suspect at a disadvantage,and wait-ing for back-up support. BARRICADED SUSPECT,a 6minute film,deals with a barricaded hostage incident and theunassigned officers who respond.Points coveredinclude never stopping directly in front of or inview of a suspect,preplanning,communications,the importance of ordering the suspect to theofficer,containment of the location,and the needfor requesting special teams in certain situations.This film stresses that barr

FAQs

Why does the article emphasize Fairfax County’s self-insurance policy?

It argues that self-insurance has proven effective and helped demonstrate that liabilities involving officers can be handled without the misleading effects of pre-trial settlements.

What role did private insurers play according to the text?

The article states that private insurers were willing to settle cases before trial, which left citizens with impressions that officers were guilty of wrongdoing.

What training purpose does the OFFICER SURVIVAL film series serve?

The series recreates real incidents to teach officers and recruits how to anticipate and deal effectively with potentially fatal situations, using scenario-based instruction and replay of correct procedures.

Sep 30, 2026

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