Admin 33- Victim Witness Services Flashcards
Department Notification Team:
A group of officers, police chaplain(s), and Victim Unit Services personnel specially trained to deliver law enforcement death and injury messages with training emphasis on the trauma these deaths and injuries cause to the families and the law enforcement community.
Duties and responsibilities of initial officer on the scene.
- Eliminate or neutralize any immediate threat to civilians or members still present on the scene.
- Summon medical assistance for involved member(s).
- Gather pertinent suspect or vehicle information from the following sources:
a. Involved member(s).
b. Dispatcher.
c. Witnesses.
d. Documentation. - Broadcast pertinent information to all units.
a. Protect identity of member.
b. Utilize the term “Officer Down” for injured officer.
c. Broadcast “Violent Felony Charges” if applicable.
d. Notify appropriate law enforcement agencies if necessary. - Secure the crime scene and summon assistance.
a. Additional patrol units if needed.
b. Immediate supervisor.
c. Major Investigations Division.
d. Crime Scene Unit.
e. Involved members’ senior supervisor on duty.
f. Public Information Officer on duty.
Duties and responsibilities of member’s senior supervisor on duty.
- Confirm identity of member.
- Notify member’s Division Commander.
- Upon notification of appropriate police officials, the senior supervisor on duty shall confirm the presence of adequate personnel and resources to conduct the necessary
investigation into the incident.
a. Officers who were on the scene or who arrived shortly after the officer was seriously injured or killed should be relieved as quickly as possible.
b. The appointment of officers to be directly involved in the investigation is an important concern due to heightened emotional levels. - The supervisor shall ensure the security of the officer’s badge and weapon. If the weapon is part of a crime scene, its security is the responsibility of the Major
Investigations officer assigned to the case. - The senior supervisor will be responsible for notifying and authorizing the Communications supervisor to contact members of the Notification Team who will
immediately respond as needed. After the Notification Team assembles, notification of the involved member’s family will immediately proceed with the senior
supervisor and Notification Team members.
Duties and responsibilities of the Division Commander:
- Notify Assistant and Deputy Chiefs.
- Notify Chief of Police.
- Notify Mayor.
Notification of member’s family should only occur after?
Careful consideration of all available resources.
Personnel records/personal history form should be examined to aid in determining the member’s preference concerning an emergency contact and to determine if the
member has designated a liaison officer preference. A file, containing all emergency contact information on each employee, shall be maintained in the?
Communications unit.
If a liaison officer has not been designated, the
____________ on duty shall appoint a liaison officer to be with member’s family during this period. The liaison officer is generally a member who is known to the family. If at all possible, the liaison officer should be present during the notification procedure. Use of the C.P.D. Chaplain on call is also suggested.
Senior supervisor
Rules to follow concerning notification.
- Make notification in person.
- Make notification in a private setting.
- Make notification with additional police official.
- Have additional police, or support personnel or Victim Services Unit personnel on hand to assist the family.
a. Neighbors.
b. Friends.
c. Clergy / C.P.D. Chaplain
d. Police support personnel.
e. Victim Services Unit - Attempt to notify all available family members.
a. Spouse.
b. Adult children.
c. Parents.
d. Brothers / Sisters. - Any prolonged delay involving the notification should be avoided.
a. Media coverage shall be handled by the Public Information Officer.
b. In cases involving very serious injury, the notification must be swift in order to allow family members contact with the involved member before death may occur. - Medical condition of family members should be considered.
- Do not provide false hope or promises to the family concerning the medical condition of member.
- Be prepared to provide essential services to family.
a. Childcare.
b. Transportation.
Medical facility considerations.
- Immediate family members should be offered transportation to the medical facility by a police department member.
- The dispatcher should be notified by an officer that the family is enroute.
- Radio traffic concerning the incident must be carefully screened from the family.
- A separate waiting area should be prepared for the family. This area should be separate from any other waiting area, if possible.
The liaison officer shall be relieved of all other duties during this period. Generally this relief should last for a __________ period. However, upon approval of Chief of Police or designee, the period may be adjusted to meet the situation.
Seven (7) day
In the event of death, the liaison officer:
a. Assist in the return of the member’s personal property to the family.
b. The member’s badge is to be presented to the family by the Chief of Police. Consider duplicate badges for spouse, children, and parents.
c. Assist in all benefits to be received by member’s survivors inclusive of insurance, pension and employee association benefits, i.e., Fraternal Order of Police, etc. The family should be escorted to the Administrative Support & Technical Services (Finance) Division for information and forms or provided with a name and telephone number.
In the event of serious injury, the liaison officer:
a. Assist in the identification and utilization of health insurance benefits;
b. Assist in pay roll matters;
c. Continue to provide comfort and support; and
d. Continue to assist in childcare and transportation needs.
After the initial seven (7) day assignment, the liaison officer should do the following:
- Keep family current on any investigation;
- Attempt to assist family with visitors or media requests for interviews;
- Provide support and accompany the family to any trials or hearings involving suspects;
- On the anniversary date of the member’s death, a special note from the Chief of Police should be sent to the family;
- Medical bills should be sent to City of Chattanooga and not to the family;
- Encourage members of the department to support the family; and
- Counseling should be made available to the family members as well as coworkers.
B. All members are required to: - Annually update personal history forms to include special instructions on emergency notification of family; and
- Designate a liaison officer.
Duties and responsibilities of the officer’s division commander or designee.
- Coordinate attendance by officers from other jurisdictions.
- Assist in lodging.
- Designation of assembly point.
- Transportation coordination.
- Maintain log of departments represented.
- Coordinate route for funeral procession.
- Assign escort vehicles/motorcycles.
- Coordinate traffic control.
- Work with funeral home on special arrangements.
- National ensign shall be placed at half staff at police facilities until three (3) days after interment.
PERIOD OF MOURNING
A. The period of mourning for police officers, firefighters, PST Seniors, School Patrol Officers, Animal Services workers, and EMS personnel within Hamilton County shall not exceed three days after interment.
B. The period of mourning for public safety personnel within Tennessee but outside Hamilton County and all other members of the department shall not exceed the day of interment.
C. The Chief of Police shall have discretion to designate special periods of mourning for any dignitary, government official, public employee or citizen as he/she considers appropriate.
D. The flying of the national ensign at half staff at department facilities, the wearing of badge shrouds and display of black antenna flags shall be limited to the period of mourning.
