iii-19-DeathAndSeriousInjurySpecialProcedures

1 (04/28/2016 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER Subject: DEATH AND SERIOUS INJURY SPECIAL PROCEDURES Index as: Death Investigations Property, Handling of Victim ’s Medical Examiner Transportation of Deceased Persons Notification of Next of Kin Accreditation Standards: 55.2.6, 61.2.1, 61.2.2, 61.2.3, and 81.2.11 Cross Reference: G.O. III -14, Evidence Replaces : G.O. III -19, Death and Serious Injury Special Procedures (November 01, 2014) This Order consist s of the following sections: I. Purpose II. Supervisor Responsibility III. Notification of Next of Kin IV. Disposition of Property V. Transportation of Deceased Persons I. PURPOSE Investigations of incidents resulting in death, or serious life -threatening illness or injuries to persons require that Officer s perform certain functions not usually required in other investigations. These matters require tact and an understanding of the needs of the next of kin and special investigative and property disposition procedures. II. SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY A. A supervisor shall respond to all deaths. B. In cases of serious injury, the supervisor shall ensure, whenever possible, emergency aid is administered in order to preserve life. C. The supervisor shall: 1. Immediately notify the Investigative Services Bureau (ISB) of all homicides and deaths that are suspicious in nature. 2. Ensure every reasonable effort is made to notify the next of kin. 3. Assist the investigating Officer in the coordination of support services. 4. Assist the investigating Officer in determining what property, if any, is to be impounded and in securing the location where the death occurred. DATE OF ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER April 2016 Immediately III-19 Distribution: All Employees General Order III -19 2 (04/28/2016 ) III. NOTIFICATION OF NEXT OF KIN A. The task of notifying the next of kin of seriously ill, seriously injured, or deceased persons often becomes the responsibility of police personnel. 1. When required, notification should be carried o ut promptly and in a compassionate manner. 2. The assistance of a police chaplain, other clergy, or other support persons may be considered if readily available. B. The investigating or assigned Officer shall make every reasonable effort to complete required notification to the next of kin during their tour of duty. T he Officer shall not leave notification to the hospital or other authorities. C. The Officer shall note in the police report the name of the person notified, relationship, and the time the notification was made. D. Within the City of St. Petersburg 1. The investigating/assigned Officer should make all notifications in person whenever practical. However, if this is not practical, the Officer should contact the Emergency Communications Center and request another Officer make the notification. 2. The Officer making the notification should have as much information as possible to carry out the notification in a professional and considerate manner. When possible, contact between Officer s related to the investigation and the Emergency Communications Center should be via telephone. 3. The Officer making the notification should remain and render additional assistance to the next of kin when necessary, including contact with clergy, F ire-Rescue, doctors or other relatives. Transportation of the next of kin to a local hospital where the victim is being treated may be requested from a supervisor, if appropriate. E. Outside the City of St. Petersburg 1. Notification to the next of kin outside the City, for an incident occurring within the City, should be done through the police agency having jurisdiction where the next of kin can be located. 2. The requesting Officer should call and/or have a teletype/computer message sent to the respective agency, providing as much information as possible. 3. The Officer should request the outside agency notify a specific point of contact within the St. Petersburg Police Department , after notification to the next -of-kin has been made. F. Making Notification for other Law Enforcement Agencies 1. Requests for next -of-kin notification from other law enforcement agencies should be received by the Emergency Communications Center via teletype/computer. 2. The Officer assigned to make the notification should be requested to contact the Emergency Communications Center and be given the notification message over the telephone. 3. The Officer should be given as much information as possible to ensure the notification is made in a professional and considerate manner. G. Incomplete Notifications 1. The Officer shall note in the police report all efforts to complete the notification, including names, addresses, telephone numbers of persons spoken with and the times attempted. General Order III -19 3 (04/28/2016 ) 2. All death investigation reports, except those involving a traffic fatality, shall be forwarded to the Investigative Services Bureau (ISB) for review and/or completion. Follow -up investigation and notification of next of kin shall be the responsibility of ISB. 3. In a traffic fatality, follow -up investigation and notification will be the responsibility of the Uniform Services Bureau (USB) Traffic Section. IV. DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY A. Any property which may be evidence or contraband should be carefully handled and marked before being submitted to the Property and Evidence Unit, as required by existing procedures. B. The property of the deceased should be turned over to an immediate family member at the incident scene whenever possible. An