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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: December 18, 2020  Amends - GO 6.2.14 ( March 5, 2019 ) Number: 6.2.14 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: November Reviewing Authority: UPD / Division Commander Subject: Law Enforcement Operations This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance for agency personnel providing law enforcement services to our community . 2. Policy Agency personnel in uniform are the most visible representatives of the Sheriff's Office and therefore must maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times. 3. Definitions A. Follow -Up Investigations - Investigations exceeding patrol capabilities in expertise or time, and forwarded to specialized investigators. B. Personnel - for the purpose of this policy personnel includes all agency members . C. Preliminary Investigation - initial investigation s begin when calls for service are received and personnel are dispatched to the scene of an incident. The investigation should continue until the assigned personnel reach a successful conclusion or transfer the responsibility to specialized investigators . 4. Procedures A. Preliminary Investigations One of the most important factors governing the successful outcome of any criminal investigation is the initial investigation by agency personnel on the scene in accordance with GO 16.1. 10. 1. The basic responsibilities of agency personnel responding to calls for service are ; protecting life and safety, incident stabilization and the mitigation of dangerous situations, property preservation, and the initial investigation of crime . 2. Medical a. With the exception of an incident as defined by TB 14 -1 (Response to an Active Shoote r), personnel shall render aid to any injured person, even if rendering aid permits the suspect to escape. If there 6.2.14 , Page 2 of 7 is possibility of life, no matter how remote, emergency medical personnel shall be requested to administer medical aid. NOTE : Rendering aid can include the use of first aid kits, medical trauma kits, chest seals, Naloxone, or tourniquets. b. When a victim is unconscious, personnel must determine if there is life by checking breathing, pulse, and reflex actions. c. When a victim is suffering from uncontrollable hemorrhaging and direct pressure does not control or stop the bleeding, deputies may apply the issued Celox gauze (hemostatic agent impregnated gauze) to the wound in an effort to control the hemorrhaging (See TB 13-1). The use of this hemostatic gauze is consistent with and pursuan t to Orange County EMS protocol. d. Personnel must never assume that a person is dead, unless: 1. The body is burned beyond recognition. 2. The body is decapitated. 3. Putrification or decomposition is noted by one or more of the senses. 4. A stiffening of the body due to rigor mortis is evident. 5. Post mortem lividity is evident. e. Personnel shall direct the movements of emergency medical personnel when removing a victim from the scene to preserve evidence. Personnel shall attempt to identify the victim before he/she is removed from the scene. If the victim is unconscious or semi -conscious , the deputy shall conduct a cursory search for identification. 3. When a victim is in critical condition as a result of a crime, a deputy shall accompany the victim to the hospital in the ambulance if another deputy is present to secure the scene. Deputies shall activate the BWC to capture any spontaneous utterance which may relate to the investigation. 4. The medical examiner (ME) shall be notified of all homicides, suspicious deaths, or apparent suicides. The Major Case detective shall be responsible for notifying the ME in these cases. Notification will be made as soon as possible. The on -scene deputy or supervisor calls the ME directly and fills them in on the facts in cases of unattended natural deaths that are not suspicious and the next of kin can be located. 5. Personnel arriving on a crime scene shall evaluate the scene through observation and by interviewing victims and witnes ses. Personnel must remain objective throughout the investigation. NOTE : Whenever possible, a CIT Deputy shall be dispatched to calls involving a confirmed or suspected mentally ill person in crisis in accordance with GO 6.4.0 . 6. Personnel shall separate victims and witnesses and instruct them not to 6.2.14 , Page 3 of 7 discuss their observations amongst themselves. Personnel shall then interview all victims and witnesses. Every effort will be made to keep victims and witnesses at the scene until the investigation is complete. 7. When suspects are located at a scene, personnel shall be alert to any statements made by suspects and prepare appropriate reports. 8. When it has been determined that the suspect has fled, personnel shall a. Attempt to obtain the suspect's name, age, height, we ight, build, color of hair and eyes, complexion, racial descent, scars and marks, oddities in appearance, clothing description, type of weapon used, and property taken, if any. b. Provide the suspect's description and method of flight to Communications and request a BOLO be broadcasted c. Direct a perimeter be set when appropriate. 9. Personnel shall protect crime scene from contamination. Scenes may