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Date: 09/15/94 Revision: 08/05/24 Reviewed: 04/14/24 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF 'S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: DPS 441.00 Page: 1 of 3 SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT OF PATROL SERVICES; DEATH INVESTIGATIONS I. PURPOSE : This standard operating procedure aims to establish guidelines for investigating death cases by Department of Patrol Services personnel. II. SCOPE : This procedure shall apply to personnel assigned to investigate death cases. III. DISCUSSION : The guidelines set forth in this procedure shall be used during death investigations. The investigation will not be limited to these guidelines. The originating deputy shall take all reasonable and prudent steps to bring the investigation to a successful conclusion. IV. DEFINITIONS : A. Hospice Case - A case in which the deceased was terminally ill and expected to die; the attending physicians have prepared a letter statin g they will sign the death certificate and funeral home arrangements have been pre -arranged. B. Medical Examiner Case - Any death case in which the physician is not available or refuses to sign the death certificate , or any death case which is not natura l or foul play is suspected (e.g., homicide, suicide, manslaughter, overdose). C. Natural Death - Any death case in which the death is of natural causes and the victim's doctor will sign the death certificate. V. PROCEDURE : A. Investigative procedure to be followed by the originating deputy. * 1. If the de ath appears to be natural, the deputy shall immediately contact the Medical Examiner 's Office (813-914-4567) . If the Medical Examiner intends to respond, maintain the scene's integrity and complete an incident report, record the Medical Examiner personnel taking over the investigation and the time of arrival at the scene. If the Medical Examiner declines to respond to the natural death, the deputy shall follow the procedure outlined below. * a. Take photographs of the victim and the scene as it was found before moving the body. b. Check the body for bruises or signs of foul play. * c. Take photographs of the victim's front and back, face, hands, eyes, tattoos, and any injuries. d. Contact the family physician and ask if he/she will sign the death certificate and ask what will be listed as the cause of death. * e. Notify the immediate supervisor of the facts surrounding the death. * f. Make every effort to notify the victim's next of kin in person . g. Assist the victim's family in contacting the funeral h ome to take custody of the victim's body. h. Remain at the scene until the victim has been removed. DPS 441.00 08/05 /24 Page 2 of 3 i. Conduct a FCIC/NCIC check on the victim for any outstanding warrants. If warrants are discovered , notify t he Warrants Section so the warrant s may be cancelled . j. Document in the incident report the name of the doctor signing the death certificate, the cause of death ; and the name, date, and time, of next of kin notification. 2. If the death appear s to be natural , but the family doctor cannot be contac ted or refuses to sign the death certificate, the death shall become a Medical Examiner's case. a. The Medical Examiner's Office shall be contacted. b. Under Florida Law, the private physician is requ ired to sign a death certificate if he/she can list the cause of d eath to the best of his /her knowledge. (These types of cases should be discussed by the private physician and the Medical Examiner's Office.) * c. When the deceased is temporarily living or visiting in Hillsborough County and does have an exten sive medical history , along with a private physician from their home area, the Medical Examiner's Office shall assume jurisdiction . d. The same steps should be followed as listed for a natural death. It is not necessary to contact the Homicide Section. e. Release a ll medications the victim was taking to the Medical Examiner 's Office. 3. In cases where the death is natural and the family requests an autopsy, hospitals may perform an autopsy with the p ermission of and at the expense of the next of kin. 4. If the death appears suspicious, the originating deputy shall immediately notify a supervisor. a. The supervisor shall immediately notify an on -duty Homicide Section supervisor. b. If it is after h ours and there is no Homicide Section supervisor on duty, the supe rvisor shall immediately notify the on-call Criminal Investigations Division (CID) supervisor. c. The scene shall be secured. d. All witnesses will be detained and separated. e. A log of pe rsons entering the crime scene shall be kept. 5. If the death appears or is suspected to be the result of an overdose, CID must be notified, and a detective will respond. The CID detective will determine if SID needs to be contacted. B. Procedures to be followed by the Patrol Supervisor: 1. If the death appears natural, the supervisor shall: a. Review the incident report to ensure no foul play is suspected, the doctor will sign the death certificate, next of kin was notified, and a n FCIC/NCIC chec k was conducted. b. The