Policy Text
Field Services Page 1 of 2 07/13 (REV 1/04)
Attempt Suicide
The purpose of this order is to establish a procedure for handl ing attempted suicide
calls.
I. Arrival
The first officer at the scene or the designated incident coord inator shall:
A. Take charge of the scene.
1. Request additional officers if necessary.
2. Secure any weapons (fir earms, knives, razors).
3. Remove unauthorized persons from the scene.
4. Notify Field Supervisor if t he attempt is serious in nature. This may
include the use of weapons, ligat ures, hazardous materials, and
etcetera.
B. Administer first aid to the victim and call for any required assistance:
1. Fire Department
C. Seek and retain instrument(s ) and evidence of the suicide at tempt
(medication, weapons, notes, and et cetera) found at the scene.
D. Ascertain the victim's identity.
E. Interview family, friends and others at the scene. Attempt to ascertain the
background and reason for the su icide attempt (depression, fina ncial,
personal problems, and/or etcetera).
F. Request CSI to process the scene and collect evidence (when necessary
or if there is likelihood the victim could die).
G. The officer shall place a hol d on the subject for a W & I 51 50 commitment
and follow established procedures for mentally disturbed indivi duals.
Field Services Page 2 of 2 07/13 (REV 1/04) H. A Casualty Report shall be comp leted on all attempted suicid e cases to
which an officer responds.
1. The report shall be complete and contain as much information as
available to the officer:
a. Description of the scene and victim.
b. Names of the persons at the scene.
c. Contents of the suicide note , if any (see Field Services
Operations Order "Deaths" fo r further information).
d. Interviews with family member s as to victim's background,
psychiatric history, suicidal tendencies, background, and etcetera.
e. Note if the victim was under the care of a doctor and/or
psychiatrist, and etcetera.
f. If drugs were involved, not e in the report the type and
amount consumed by the victim ( Prescription drugs are
usually retained by medical per sonnel. Illegal drugs shall be
booked by the officer.)
g. Note any other instr uments of the suicide.
II. Transportation of Victims
A. If the victim's life is i n danger, the ambulanc e will transp ort to the nearest
emergency hospital that is capabl e of handling the case. In ce rtain
situations it may be necessary to have an officer ride in the a mbulance
and accompany the victim.
B. If the victim's life is not in danger, but requires medical attention,
transportation shall be arranged to the UCD Medical Center or o ther
authorized hospital to treat and m edically clear the victim pri or to
evaluation and treatment at the Sacramento Mental Health Clinic .
C. Once the victim is medicall y cleared, the officer will compl ete the victim
advisement and application for 72- hour detention for evaluation and
treatment (if such a hold is warranted).
1. The casualty report number s hould be placed in the upper rig ht
corner of the advisement form (for SMHC staff purposes).