Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
TITLE: ACCREDITATION
Law Enforcement Death Support CALEA 55.2.6
Services/ Non-Department
PRIOR REVISIONS:
03/08/00; 06/19/00; 04/10/08
PROPONENT UNIT ATTACHMENT:
Patrol Support Bureau
NUMBER: ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES
55.4 07/01/1998 10/10/2019 3
I. PURPOSE: This Order establishes a policy that provides honors and representation to a non-
Department law enforcement member who dies in the line-of-duty.
II. POLICY: Dependent upon the wishes of the family and the availability of Department resources,
the Gainesville Police Department may provide honors to non-Department law enforcement
members who die in the line-of-duty.
III. DEFINITIONS:
A. Line-of-Duty Death of Non-Department Law Enforcement Officer: A non-Department
law enforcement officer who dies while taking action, either on or off-duty, authorized or
obligated to perform by law, rule, regulation, or condition of employment or service.
IV. PROCEDURE:
A. Department-Wide Death Notification:
1. Qualifying Events:
i. The death of any active sworn member of an Alachua County law enforcement
agency,
ii. A line-of-duty death of a sworn member of any law enforcement agency in Florida,
iii. The plan to hold a funeral service in Gainesville of a non-Department law
enforcement officer killed in the line-of-duty.
2. Notifications Received by Communications: When notified of a death or funeral
service of a sworn member of another Florida law enforcement agency killed in the
line of duty, Communications personnel will:
i. Regular Business Hours: Immediately notify the Honor Guard Commander or
designee, and ensure that the Office of the Chief is also notified.
ii. Non-Business Hours: Immediately notify the Shift Commander, who depending
on the circumstances, may notify the District Commander and/or Administrative
Commander, or activate the Honor Guard.\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
3. Original Notifications Received by Other Department Members: When a
Department member receives an original notification of the death of a sworn member
of another Florida law enforcement agency, he/she shall immediately notify the on-
duty Communications Supervisor so the proper notifications can occur.
4. Honor Guard Commander’s Responsibilities: The Honor Guard Commander shall
coordinate the initial Department-wide notification regarding the deaths of officers killed
in the line of duty in the State of Florida (including Alachua County), as well as any
memorial observances.
i. This notification shall include information regarding dates of services and funerals.
B. Next-of-Kin Notifications: When receiving a deceased, seriously injured or seriously ill
next-of-kin notification request from another law enforcement agency, Gainesville Police
Department personnel shall deliver notification to family members residing within City
jurisdiction regarding the non-Department law enforcement member.
1. All notifications from outside agencies shall be required to come through the teletype.
2. All next-of-kin notifications should be carried out promptly and with consideration.
Members are encouraged to utilize local support services to assist the family, such as
clergy, the Department’s victim advocate, the Alachua County Crisis Care Team,
mental health counselors, and other resources
C. Representation at Services Held for Deaths of Law Enforcement Officers:
1. Alachua County: Based on the circumstances of the incident, the Chief shall decide the
number of Departmental representatives to send to the funeral of a law enforcement
member from another agency within Alachua County.
i. The Chief shall appoint a member to coordinate with the principal agency and
organize the Department’s representation, normally the Honor Guard Commander.
ii. Department representatives shall wear their dress uniforms and drive marked
vehicles.
iii. The Motorcycle Unit Supervisor may send escort motorcycles subject to staffing
considerations at the time of the funeral.
iv. The duties of the representation team shall be considered an on-duty assignment.
2. Within the State Outside Alachua County: When directed by the Chief of Police, the
Department shall send a representation team to memorial services for Florida law
enforcement members killed in the line-of-duty.
i. Generally, the official representation team for funerals shall be motorcycle officers or
designated honor guard members.
2\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ii. This guideline does not prohibit attendance at other law enforcement agency funerals
by those off-duty officers who wish to travel by private transportation, nor does it
prohibit the use of police vehicles, if approved by the Chief of Police.
D. Memorial Observances: Protocol for officially observing the deaths of members of law
enforcement agencies is as follows:
1. Line-of Duty Deaths Alachua County: Uniformed members shall wear mourning badge
bands immediately upon notification by the Honor Guard Commander that there has
been a line-of-duty death in Alachua County.
i. The bands shall be worn from the day of notification through the day of the final
service or funeral.
2. Line-of Duty Deaths in the State of Florida: Uniformed members shall wear mourning
badge bands only on the day of the final service or funeral.
3. Line-of-Duty Deaths Outside Florida: Memorial observance for line-of-duty deaths
shall be at the discretion of the Chief of Police (or as authorized by the City Manager).
4. Non Line-of-Duty Officer Deaths: Memorial observance for officers killed due to
accidents or natural causes shall be at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
5. Annual Police Memorial Ceremonies:
i. Local: Members attending the local Law Enforcement Memorial Day functions shall
wear mourning badge bands and, when possible, long sleeved dress uniforms.
a Members on-duty, in operational capacities, may wear regular duty uniforms.
ii. State: Representation at the State of Florida Law Enforcement Memorial Day
functions shall be at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
E. U.S. Flag Protocol: Decisions regarding the flying of the American flag in memoriam to
fallen officers shall rest with the Office of the Chief and/or the Honor Guard Commander.
F. Public Information: The PIO will provide assistance to the Chief of Police and/or Honor
Guard Commander, as needed, to disseminate information / coordinate events.
_________________________
By Order of
Signed Original on File in
The Accreditation Unit
__________________________
Tony R. Jones
Chief of Police
3