Policy Text
Roll Call Training Bulletin
Produced b y: Lt. Jason Start , OOO Cen tral Comman d Katherine Lester , Chief of Police
Prep ared by : Ofc. Jeff Kuhlmann , PSU Volume 120
Resp onding to Calls Involving De ceased Individuals
12-14-22
The Sacramento Police and Fire Department s often respond to calls for service involving dead human bodies.
The following are guidelines developed with personnel from the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) and
Sacramento Fire Department (SFD) Deputy Chief John Danciart for respond ing to calls involv ing deceased
individuals . Absent a criminal investigation, the primary responding agency is responsibl e for coordinating the
coroner office ’s respo nse.
Fact Patte rn #1
The SPD responds to a call for service involving a non -responsiv e person. Officers arrive and request SFD
personnel respond for medical assistance. SFD personnel arrive and pronounce the subject deceased. The
facts surroun ding the deceased indic ate a possible natural death, overdose death or non -criminal death . SPD
personnel would contact and standby for the coroner’s office personnel . SFD personnel would clear the scene.
Fact Patt ern #2
The SFD responds to a medical call and upon arrival pronounce the person dece ased. The facts surrounding
the deceased indicate a possible natural death, overdose death or non -criminal death. SFD would contact and
standby for coroner’s office personnel to remove the deceased. SPD would not re spond to this incident .
Fact Pattern #3
The SFD respo nds to a medical call and upon arrival pronounc e the p erson deceased. The facts s urrounding
the deceased indicate a possible natural death, overdose death or non -criminal death. The SFD would conta ct
and standby for the coroner’s office personnel to remove the d eceased . In the event the coroner invest igator
at the scene locates trauma or evidence of a possible assault, SPD personnel would respond and investigate .
*The C oroner Invest igator will c ollect small amounts o f narcotics withou t the n eed for SPD response.