Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 254.03
Page 1 of 1
254.03
DEATH AND CRITICAL INJURY NOTIFICATION DETAIL
10-10-12
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order to establish procedures for the notification of next of kin of an employee who dies or
is critically injured while on duty.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to provide courteous and professional support to the
families of employees who have died or have been critica lly injured, making every effort to notify the
employee's next of kin in a timely and effective manner.
PROCEDURE
NOTE : The following procedures are guidelines only. Every effort shall be taken to follow these procedures,
however, there are instances when due to certain constraints such as time of day, staffing limitations, time-
efficiency, and needs of the family, that strict procedural adherence will not be possible. In such a case, the
highest ranking officer in charge of the notification detail shall assume responsibility for timely, effective and
empathic notifications.
A. GENERAL
1. Watch Commanders shall:
a. immediately notify the Captain the employee works for.
b. examine the employee's emergency information card to determine whom the employee has
designated to be notified, and relay the information to the Captain.
B. DEATH NOTIFICATION DETAIL
1. The employee’s Captain shall immediately notify both the Chief of Police (COP) and the Office Chief.
2. The employee’s Captain or designee shall form and lead the Notification Detail. The detail shall not
exceed four members if possible. Members shall be selected from the following list as appropriate,
with consideration given to time-efficiency and the needs of the family.
NOTE: There are many networks, associations and fr iendships between officers and employees of
the Department. While "friends" may sincerely wish to get involved, it is necessary to consider the
emotional implications of unethical and incomplete notif ications on concerned family members.
Therefore, employees shall not take it upon themselves to notify family members prior to official
Department notification unless they can articulate a reasonable necessity, which is in the best
interests of the family members wh o are closest to the involved employee.
a. COP
b. Office Chief
c. Appropriate Captain d. Other employees as deemed necessary and proper e. Police Chaplain f. Peer support
3. If the Office Chief is unavailable, the appropriate Captain shall assume the Office Chief’s
responsibilities.
4. The employee’s Captain or designee shall contact t he Peer Support Coordinator so that they can
provide support for the family and others impacted by the employee’s critical injury or death. Peer
support may be also be used as a liaison between the family and the Department.
C. GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
1. The name of the officer shall not be released to the media before notification of next of kin. Any
official disclosure of the incident shall be in compliance with GO 360.01 Media Relations or as designated by the COP.
2. Fellow officer(s), team member(s), or other Department employee(s) shall refrain from contacting
surviving or extended family member(s) prior to official notification.
3. Employee(s) shall not disclose information concer ning the incident over the radio unless necessary.