Death investigations 04-02

Question 1

Who must be notified of an attempt suicide

Answer 1

Supervisory officer

Question 2

When must a supervisor attend a death investigation

Answer 2

Suicide
Possible/Unnatural or Sudden death
Suspicious death
Suspected homicide
Sudden unexpected death
Apparent suicide or accident where only the only witness or person present at the time of death or the finding of the body is an intimate partner past or present

Question 3

When must a divisional detective attend the death investigation

Answer 3

Death of a child under five
Sudden unexpected death of a child
Unnatural sudden death
Sudden unexpected death
Apparent suicide or accident where the only witness or person present at the time of death or the finding of the body is an intimate partner past or present

Question 4

Who can pronounced death

Answer 4

No person except a qualified medical practitioner except when death appears obvious

Question 5

Will emergency medical services transport a deceased person

Answer 5

Only when body removal service is not readily available

Question 6

When will the coroner be notified and requested to attend

Answer 6

In all cases of a unnatural sudden death

Question 7

How is the death of a child under five years of age treated

Answer 7

Every sudden unexpected death of a child or the death of a child under five must be investigated as suspicious

Question 8

Who determines admittance into the postmortem examination room

Answer 8

Medical director of the facility

Question 9

Who may be granted admittance into the postmortem examination room

Answer 9

Only those who have an essential need to be present
Including F I S

A police officer who has direct information regarding the case and needs to be present for investigative reasons

Question 10

Access to the autopsy may be granted to officers for what reasons

Answer 10

Only to officers who have an operational, investigative or educational [By appointment only] need to be present

Question 11

Responding to an attempted suicide, sudden-death or a unnatural sudden death who designates a line of approach to the victim

Answer 11

First police officer on scene

Question 12

If additional officers arrive on scene who is in charge

Answer 12

The first officer on scene is in charge until a supervisory officer arrives

Question 13

Does the coroner have to be notified to attend a unnatural death

Answer 13

Yes and must be confirmed

Question 14

Who decides if a SOCO or scenes of crime officer examines a crime scene

Answer 14

Officer in charge of F I S

Question 15

Can a scene of crimes officer (SOCO) be assigned to death investigations involving sudden unexpected death of a child or the death of a child under five years of age or a suspicious death or suspected homicide

Answer 15

No

Question 16

If a death occurs on TTC property who will photograph the scene

Answer 16

And F I S investigator or a SOCO [With approval from F I S] will photograph the scene

Question 17

When responding to an attempted suicide or death on TTC property, what shall a police officer do

Answer 17

Ensure electrical power is turned off before approaching track level

Question 18

Does a detective need to attend a death on TTC property

Answer 18

Yes

Question 19

Can a body be removed prior to the scene being photographed

Answer 19

Yes, but only at the direction of the coroner, there is no requirement to wait for a detective to arrive before the body is moved.

Question 20

Who is responsible for the quality and thoroughness of the uniform response

Answer 20

First supervisory officer

Question 21

Who is responsible for ensuring effective management of the scene and the thoroughness of the investigation and the appropriate notifications

Answer 21

Divisional detective

Question 22

In the case of an unnatural death who must the first supervisory officer ensure the attendance of

Answer 22

Divisional detective
The coroner
An F I S investigator

Question 23

What is the officer in charge responsible for in a death investigation

Answer 23

The officer in charge is responsible for insuring an appropriate uniform response, and in the absence of the Detective Sgt. an appropriate investigative response

Question 24

When notified of an unnatural sudden death what shall the OIC ensure

Answer 24

Detective personnel attend the scene

A copy of the completed eReport is forwarded by TPS fax to the office of the Chief Coroner as soon as practible

Question 25

Who attends an autopsy of a child aged 0 to 12

Answer 25

Investigative specialist criminal investigations - FIS

Question 26

Who notifies next of kin of a death as a result of motor vehicle collision

Answer 26

Traffic services supervisor

Question 27

Who notifies next of kin of a death as a result of a homicide

Answer 27

SCI - Homicide

Question 28

Who does the detective notify if next of kin notifications are unsuccessful

Answer 28

Divisional Detective Sgt.

Question 29

Who notifies next of kin

Answer 29

When it is necessary to notify a next of kin should ensure the notification is
 made in person
 made by a supervisory officer in lieu of a constable

Question 30

Who does the supervisory officer at the scene notify if next of kin notification is unsuccessful

Answer 30

Divisional Detective.

Question 31

If next of kin notifications are unsuccessful what shall the Detective Sergeant do

Answer 31

Upon receiving information that a police officer has been unable to contact a next of kin shall take the appropriate action to ensure that the next of kin is notified.

Question 32

When must an officer attend a morgue and be physically present when a deceased is identified

Answer 32

 homicide, suspected homicide or other related criminal offences
 cases where the investigating officer has requested the presence of another officer
 cases where an inquest has been or is likely to be called
 when the Coroner believes it is necessary due to the nature of the case, or the condition of the person doing the identification.

Question 33

How shall a body be transported to the morgue (position of body()

Answer 33

Bodies should always be transported and stored in the supine (face up) position
pending post mortem examination to avoid introducing artifacts which may obscure post mortem findings.