Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O 533.03
Page 1 of 3
533.03
DEAD HUMAN BODIES
11-19-12
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is t o establish procedures when dead human bodies are encountered.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to ensure that officers who encounte r dead human
bodies proceed in a manner that ensures the protection of the scene, the prevention of contamination of
evidence and the notification of appropriate supervisory and investigative personnel.
PROCEDURE
A. GENERAL
1. Officers shall not disturb human remains before the arrival of investigative personnel or the
Sacramento County Coroner’s Office (SCCO) unless necessary in order to preserve critical
evidence or to prevent further damage to or the loss of the remains (See Section E for suicide
procedures) .
a. Officers shall not remove identification cards, wallets, contraband, clothing or any other object s
from human remains unless they have received explicit permission from a deputy coroner to do
so.
b. Officers shall not cover the body or disturb the immediate scene with attempts to cover the
body.
2. If the circumstances are suspicious or appear to indicate a homicide, the officer shall immediately
request that a field supervisor respond to the scene.
3. Officers who encounter a dead human body shall immediately attempt to determine the
circumstances of the death. Officers shall notify their sup ervisor of all circumstances surrounding
any death.
a. Officers who have any doubt as to whether or not a person is dead shall request that the Fire
Department respond to the scene.
b. Obvious cases of death shall not be transported to the hospital.
c. If the death appears to be natural, the officer shall request the SCCO as soon as possible to
conduct an inspection of the body and to solicit an opinion concerning the cause of death.
4. The officer on scene and the responding supervisor shall consider the protection of the scene as
his or her primary responsibility when there is a homicide or suspicious death.
5. Officers should be aware of the trauma experienced by families and/or friends in the event of an
unexpected death. Officers shall
a. Ask family members/friends of the deceased if they would like a community chaplain to provide
assistance. If needed, the officer should request that the Communications Center notify the
community chaplaincy and request their response .
b. Minimize their contact with ride-a-longs and other non -essenti al persons at the scene.
c. Avoid any further intrusion on the grieving family than is necessary in order to perform timely,
reliable and quality police service.
B. HOMICIDE
1. Obvious circumstances of death
a. The first officer on scene shall request that a field supervisor respond.
b. The officer that locates a dead human body shall:
(1) Maintain scene responsibility until the arrival of a supervisor;
(2) Request any additional personnel and/or utilize barrier tape to ensure that an adequate
area surrounding the sce ne is properly protected;
(3) Keep all persons out of the scene until the field supe rvisor arrives; and
(4) Advise the supervisor immediately upon their arrival of the known circumstances of death.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O 533.03
Page 2 of 3
2. If the circumstances of death are obvious , the field supervisor shall
a. Immediately notify the watch commander of the circumstances surrounding the death. The
watch commander shall make a determination if detectives are needed , and if so, request that
they respond.
b. Not allow anyone except investigative personnel to enter the crime scene area unless exigent
circumstances exist.
c. Ensure that the number of authorized personnel entering the crime scene is kept to a minimum.
d. Ensure the maintenance of a log which captures the names of all parties entering the crime
scene .
3. The crime scene supervisor or Homicide sergeant shall coordinate their efforts with the SCCO
while conducting the ir investigation. Information obtained at the scene, including witness
statements , shall be exchanged as deemed necessary .
4. A neighbor hood canvass should be completed for potential witnesses and surveillance footage.
Officers shall complete supplements to the General Offense report that indicates the addresses
checked, whether or not contact was made, the contact information for all individua ls contacted ,
and all corresponding statements.
5. Any weapon(s) used or suspected of being used during the commission of a homicide shall remain
in the custody of the Police Department to be handled in accordance with General Order 525.01
(Evidence and Prope rty).
6. Projectiles that are contained within human bodies are normally recovered by the SCCO and
placed in an evidence locker at the Sacramento County Crime Lab. NOTE: Homicide investigators
may obtain such projectiles directly from the medical examiner for transportation to the
Sacramento County Crime Lab.
7. All clothing from the deceased will be removed by the Deputy Coroner and placed in an evidence
locker at the Sacramento County Crime Lab.
8. When called to the scene of a dead human bod y, the Homicide Unit shall assume case
responsibility.
C. QUESTIONABLE CIRCUMS TANCES OF DEATH
1. If the information indicates that the death may not be a homicide, the field supervisor(s) shall enter
the scene and investigate.
2. If the supervisor determines that the death is a homic ide, they shall follow the procedures outlined
in