Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS MANUAL
SUBJECT
Employment Related Serious Injury or
Death
CHIEF OF POLICE
Signature on File
Proudly Policing Since 1841 Nationally Accredited 1986
NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES
74 12/15/2000 03/05/2025 1 of 14
AUTHORITY/RELATED REFERENCES
General Order 28, Honor Guard
General Order 54, Stress Management
General Order 63, Officer Actions Resulting in Death or Serious Injury
General Order 67, Victim Advocacy
General Order 73, Chaplain Program
General Order 90, Peer Support
General Order 91, Wellness Program
ACCREDITATION REFERENCES
CALEA Chapter 22
KEY WORD INDEX
Additional Considerations Procedure VII
Confidential Employment Related Death Form Procedure II
Funeral Protocol Procedure V
General Guidelines Procedure I
Employment Related Serious Injury or Death Procedure IV
Non-Employment Related Serious Injury or Death Procedure VI
Notification Procedures Procedure III
Patrol Operations Procedure IX
Public Information Office Procedure VIII
POLICY
The Tallahassee Police Department shall provide compassionate support and
assistance in the event any active or retired member dies or suffers a severe or
debilitating injury. The level of assistance and support shall be provided in
accordance with the desires of the immediate family and consistent with this policy.\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
DEFINITIONS
Confidential Employment Related Death Form (PD 322): A sealed envelope
containing confidential information provided by a member to be accessed only in
the event of death or severe injury in order to facilitate the notification of immediate
family. The Confidential Line-of-Duty Death Form shall remain in a designated
secure area.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing: A closed confidential discussion of a critical
incident with those directly involved prior to, during and/or after a stressful event.
This is coordinated and led by the Wellness Coordinator (or designee) and the
discussion is intended to provide support, education and an outlet for views and
feelings associated with the event.
Debriefings are neither counseling nor an operational critique of the incident.
Debriefing may be offered as soon as practical following an incident so long as the
debriefing does not interfere with any criminal or internal affairs investigation
relevant to the incident.
Departmental Liaison Officer: Assistant Team Leader of the Department
Support Team, who is appointed by the Department Support Team Leader. This
Department member is assigned to facilitate communication between the
Department and its members in conjunction with the Behavioral Wellness
Coordinator.
Department Support Team: A Department team assembled to coordinate support
services for department members in the event an agency member dies or suffers
a severe or debilitating injury.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): A program sponsored by the City of
Tallahassee to provide various components of support and assistance for
employees, including emotional counseling services.
Employment Related Injury or Death: Any serious injury or death occurring while
in the performance of work-related duties.
Family Liaison Officer: Assistant Team Leader of the Family Support Team, who
is assigned by the Family Support Team Leader. This Department member is
assigned to help facilitate between the Department and the family.
Family Support Team: A Department team assembled to coordinate support
services for the family of an agency member who dies or suffers a severe or
debilitating injury.
GENERAL ORDER 74 PAGE 2 of 14
EMPLOYMENT RELATED MARCH 5, 2025
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Hospital Liaison Officer: A Department member assigned to coordinate with
hospital staff about the incident to establish space for receiving the family and
officers at the hospital. This officer will be assigned by and communicate with the
on-duty Watch Commander or designee.
Immediate Family: Parent(s), spouse, children (regardless of residence) and
grandparents.
Logistics Officer: A Department member assigned to help with the coordination
of items needed by either other members, liaison officers, the family or
Department. This officer is assigned by the Department Team Leader.
Peer Support Team: A group of Department members with specialized training
who lend support to Department members experiencing trauma and/or stress in
their personal and/or professional lives.
Severe or Debilitating Injury: An injury or illness to a Department member
resulting in extreme damage or impairment.
Tallahassee Police Department Line of Duty Death Response Guide (PD269):
A comprehensive guide with checklists to assist with each role of a line of duty
death incident. This is located on Sharepoint in forms.
PROCEDURES
I. GENERAL GUIDELINES
A. Members may reference the Tallahassee Police Department Line of
Duty Death Response Guide on Sharepoint for checklists and additional
guidance.
B. The Department shall establish a Family Support Team and a
Department Support Team to provide assistance in the event an agency
member suffers a severe or debilitating injury or dies while in the
performance of work-related duties.
1. Family Support Team Members
Team Leader – Deputy Chief, Major or designee of respective
member
Assistant Team Leader (Family Liaison Officer) – as appointed by
Team Leader
Victim Advocate
Department Chaplain
GENERAL ORDER 74 PAGE 3 of 14
EMPLOYMENT RELATED MARCH 5, 2025
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Employee Resources Coordinator
Personal Friend – as designated by Confidential Line-of-Duty
Death Form
2. Department Support Team Members
Team Leader – Deputy Chief, Major or designee
Assistant Team Leader – Behavioral Wellness Coordinator or
Department Liaison Officer – as appointed by Team Leader
Department Chaplain
Peer Support Team Members
CDA Liaison
Logistics Officer
Site Coordinator – as designated by Team Leader
C. A senior commander of the rank of Deputy Chief, Major or designee shall
serve as Team Leaders to coordinate individual team responsibilities
and functions.
D. The agency shall make the services of the Department-contracted
mental health provider, and Department Chaplain available to all
immediate family members.
II. CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYMENT RELATED DEATH FORM
A. After the initial distribution, Employee Resources shall provide members
with the Confidential Employment Related Death Form (PD 322) upon
hire or as otherwise determined by the Director of Employee Resources.
The Confidential Employment Related Death Form will also be made
available to members during each annual benefits open enrollment
period for necessary updates.
B. Each member shall sign the form, seal it in the designated envelope and
return it to Employee Resources. Should the member opt not to
complete all or a part of the form, he/she is still required to sign and date
the document.
C. Completed PD 322 forms shall remain in a designated secure file
cabinet within the Watch Office and are accessed only in the event of
severe injury or death in order to facilitate the notification to persons
designated by the member therein.
GENERAL ORDER 74 PAGE 4 of 14
EMPLOYMENT RELATED MARCH 5, 2025
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH\n\n--- Page 5 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
III. NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
A. In the event of an employment related serious injury or death of a
department member, the Watch Commander shall immediately notify
the Patrol Operations Bureau Commander. The Bureau Commander or
designee, shall notify the following members:
1. Deputy Chief,
2. Chief of Police, and
3. Other Bureau Commander(s) affected by the incident.
B. After the above notifications have been made, the Watch Commander,
or designee, shall utilize the Everbridge system to request assistance
from the following:
1. Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) or Traffic Homicide Unit (THU), as
appropriate,
2. Forensic