Policy Text
Policy
1025San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/23, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentSerious Injury/Line-of-Duty Deaths - 1Serious Injury/Line-of-Duty Deaths
1025.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures that will ensure the proper notification,
support, and emotional care for an employee's immediate survivors should an on-duty death or
serious injury occur. These guidelines will also help ensure that proper honors are rendered.
Assistance will also be provided to the immediate survivors of members and retirees who die of
natural causes. The department will also ensure a thorough examination of survivor benefits, as
well as emotional support during this traumatic period of readjustment for the survivors. Funeral
arrangements of the deceased employee are to be decided by the survivor with their wishes taking
precedence over those of the department
1025.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
Line-of-duty death - The death of an officer during the course of performing law enforcement-
related functions while on- or off-duty, or a civilian member during the course of performing
assigned duties.
For an officer, a line-of-duty death includes death that is the direct and proximate result of a
personal injury sustained in the line of duty (34 USC § 10281).
Survivors - Immediate family members of the deceased member, which can include spouse,
children, parents, other next of kin, or significant others. The determination of who should be
considered a survivor for purposes of this policy should be made on a case-by-case basis given
the individual's relationship with the member and whether the deceased member previously
designated the individual..
Serious Injury - Any injury that involves; a substantial risk of death, protracted and obvious
disfigurement, long-term hospitalization, or any injury that may have a significant impact on the
employee or their survivors.
Beneficiary - Those designated by the officer as recipients of specific death benefits.
Benefits - Financial payments made to the family to ensure financial stability following the loss
of a loved one
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Serious Injury/Line-of-Duty Deaths
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/23, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentSerious Injury/Line-of-Duty Deaths - 21025.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the San Luis Obispo Police Department to make appropriate notifications and
to provide assistance and support to survivors and coworkers of a member who dies in the line
of duty.
It is also the policy of this department to respect the requests of the survivors when they conflict
with these guidelines, as appropriate.
1025.3 CLASSIFICATIONS
Class I - A Class I death is to be considered for members of the department who are killed in the
line of duty. A Class I death will also include those who are injured during their duties and who
later die as a result of these injuries.
Class II -A Class II death is a death occurring when an active employee is off duty and not relating
to any police-related/emergency activities. A Class II death will also include suicide deaths.
Class III - A Class III death pertains to the death of a retiree of the police department.
1025.4 HONORS ACCORDED
The following is a list of honors that may be accorded for each classification of death. All honors
are subject to approval and availability. Honors offered to survivors will be upon the review and
approval of the Chief of Police, or designate a family liason.
1025.4.1 CLASS I
(a)Full activation of the PEER Support Team.
(b)Flags lowered to half-Staff.
(c)Badge bands or black ribbons worn.
(d)Honor watch and remains escort, from time of pronouncement to the conclusion of
the funeral or memorial.
(e)All available personnel are encouraged to attend, including off-duty members.
(f)Funeral coach escorts.
(g)Family escorts prior to and during the funeral.
(h)Financial Aid for funeral/burial.
(i)Assistance with benefits.
(j)Obituary.
(k)Full law enforcement honors (funeral or memorial) may include:
1.Honor Guard Presence
2.Honor Watch
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Serious Injury/Line-of-Duty Deaths
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/23, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentSerious Injury/Line-of-Duty Deaths - 33.Funeral procession
4.Flag draped casket, fold, and presentation
5.Rifle volley
6.Taps
7.Flag fold and presentation
8.Bagpipes and/or drums
9.Fly-over
10.Mounted Unit
11.Family escorts to local, state and national memorials
1025.4.2 CLASS II
Escort, viewing, and funeral honors will generally be limited to services within 100 miles of City
of San Luis Obispo.
(a)Partial activation of the PEER Support Team
(b)Funeral honors to include:
1.Honor Guard presence
2.Riffle volley
3.Taps
4.Flag draped casket, fold, and presentation or flag presentation
1025.4.3 CLASS III
Note: The family of the deceased retiree is responsible for contacting the department if they wish
participation in the funeral. Viewing