118

Date: 12/16/85 Revision: 09/20/18 Reviewed: 10/31/23 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: GEN 229.00 Page: 1 of 5 SUBJECT: EMERGENCY NOTI FICATION S I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to define guidelines for the notification of next of kin, and/or the delivery of emergency or urgent messages. II. SCOPE: This procedure shall apply to all Sheriff ’s Office pers onnel. III. DISCUSSION: The delivery of emergency messages is a basic and l egitimate function of law enforcement. However, restrictive guidelines are necessary in order to ensure that Sheriff ’s Office personnel are able to operate effectively and perform their daily objectives. Therefore, the procedures outlined below shall be followed when accepting and delivering emergency messages. IV. DEFINITIONS: A. Attempt to Locate - a request to find the whereabouts of a specific individual and from which an in ference cannot be taken that the information pertaining to that person ’s loca tion is used in a civil action, for the collection of unpaid bills , or for any other reason which logic dictates the Sheriff ’s Office should not honor. B. Emergency message - a request which involves the transmitting of sensitive or urgent information. * C. Death Notification - a notification of a person’s death which is believed to have been caused by criminal activity, a vehicle accident, suicide, suspiciou s or unusual circumstances, or the use of a controlled substance or poison. V. PROCEDURES: A. Agency Notification 1. Medical Examiner - The Medical Examiner ’s Office shall be notified by the on-scene investigating deputy in incidents involving death. T he deputy shall supply the necessary information required by that agency, or ensure that notification is made by the Communications Bureau Supervisor. 2. Public Utilities - Notification of emergency or hazardous situations involving public utilities shall be made by the on -scene deputy through the Communications Bureau Supervisor. Request for response by a utilities representative shall be made promptly in accordance with established Communications ’ Bureau procedures. 3. Traffic Control/County Maintenance - Notification of traffic hazards requiring immediate attention shall be made through the Communications Bureau Supervisor. 4. News Media - Media notification shall be made in accordance with existing procedures. GEN 229.00 09/20/18 Page 2 of 5 * 5. Outside Agencies - The Communications Bureau shall notify outside law enforcemen t agencies via teletype when a death notification is required in another jurisdiction. B. Notification of Individuals 1. Attempt to Contact - Requests received by telephone or t eletype in the Communications Bureau , which contain a specific location, shall be handled by dispatching a patrol unit to the applicable address. a. If the patrol unit is unable to find the individual at the address provided by the complainant, the deputy shall make inquiries to obtain information which may lead to the whereabouts of the subject. 2. Attempt to Contact - Requests received by telephone or teletype in the Communications Bureau , which do not contain a specific address, shall first be research ed by Communications Bureau personnel. a. If an address can be located, a patrol unit shall be dispatched to take action as required . b. If the research efforts of Communications Bureau personnel lead to negative results and a location for the subject can not be developed through investigative means available to the Sheriff ’s Office, the request shall be forwarded to the Communication s Bureau Shift Supervisor. The supervisor shall review the r equest to determine if a county wide alert would be appropriate b ased upon the nature and magnitude of the request. 3. Emergency message - Request received by telephone or teletype in the Communications Bureau shall be handled by dispatching a patrol unit to the applicable address with the message. * 4. Death Notifications a. Public citizen notifications with in Hillsborough County: 1. Death notifications shall be made to the next of kin in person and not by telephone , when possible . 2. The name of the deceased should not be rel eased to the media before the immediate family or next of kin are notified. If the media has obtained the name of the deceased prior to notification of immediate family or next of kin , a request should be made for the media to withhold this information pending proper notification. 3. Notifications involving death will be accomplished in such a manner as to cause the least discomfort possible to the notified individual. 4. All death notifications received by the Sheriff’s Office shall be verified as legitimate. Once verified, t he Communication s Bureau should notify the sh ift commander of the applicable district/division, who will then ensure a deputy responds to provide a professional and compassionate notificati on. 09/20/18 GEN 229.00 Page 3 of 5 5. Since reactions such as hysteria, shock, anger, fainting , or physical violence may be exhibited by the next of kin or family members , the shift commander or applicable supervisor may utiliz e the Sheriff’s Office chaplain and/or victim advocate to assist in the notification process. 6. At incident scenes where the victim is deceased and family members are present, the