Death scene investigations

Question 1

What is the purpose of G.O. 2015-04A?

Answer 1

To delineate the responsibilities of department employees in death scene investigations.

Question 2

When should department officers complete a Death Investigation case report?

Answer 2

During the investigation of any death outside a medical facility or when directed.

Question 3

What should the first officer arriving at a death scene ensure?

Answer 3

That Fire and Emergency Services are dispatched if not already on scene.

Question 4

What should officers do upon locating an apparent deceased individual?

Answer 4

Use methods they are trained in to determine signs of life.

Question 5

Who is responsible for determining death and notifying the coroner?

Answer 5

Emergency Care personnel (EC).

Question 6

What is the primary responsibility of the first officer at a death scene?

Answer 6

Protecting the death scene until relieved by a supervisor or FSU employees.

Question 7

When should a supervisor be dispatched to a death scene?

Answer 7

E911 should be requested to dispatch a supervisor to all death scenes.

Question 8

Who should guard any weapon discovered at a crime scene?

Answer 8

The officer protecting the scene or another designated officer.

Question 9

What actions should be taken with discovered weapons at a crime scene?

Answer 9

If possible, weapons should not be handled, moved, or removed except by FSU employees.

Question 10

What should EC personnel be instructed to do at a death scene?

Answer 10

Not to ‘clean up’ the scene and preserve evidence without altering it.

Question 11

Who should prepare and forward necessary laboratory submissions to the Kentucky State Police Laboratory in a death investigation?

Answer 11

The lead investigator, after consultation with a Forensic Services Unit employee.

Question 12

When can evidence be released to any person or agency in a death investigation?

Answer 12

Evidence shall not be released without authorization from the coroner’s office, except for entering items as evidence in a court of law.

Question 13

What information is the coroner’s office responsible for releasing to the media in a death investigation?

Answer 13

Information pertaining to cause of death, manner of death, victim’s identity, and time of death.

Question 14

When can the manner of death information be released to the media in a death investigation?

Answer 14

Only after conferring with the Personal Crimes Section investigator and ensuring it won’t hinder an ongoing criminal investigation.

Question 15

Who should coordinate press conferences related to a death investigation?

Answer 15

Both the police department and Fayette County Coroner.

Question 16

What should happen immediately after completing media releases from the coroner’s office or police department?

Answer 16

The releases should be exchanged between the two offices by fax or email.

Question 17

Who should coordinate with the Personal Crimes Section supervisor or lead investigator before any news release in a death investigation?

Answer 17

The PIO (Public Information Officer) or other designated employee.

Question 18

Who should attend autopsies associated with any investigation?

Answer 18

A Forensic Services Unit employee.

Question 19

What should be done with the autopsy report after attending an autopsy in a death investigation?

Answer 19

Forwarded to the coroner’s office, who will then send a copy to the Personal Crimes Section for a permanent file.

Question 20

When can the autopsy report be released by the department in a death investigation?

Answer 20

Autopsy results and reports will be released by the coroner’s office after the case is closed.

Question 21

Who is responsible for notifying next of kin in a death investigation?

Answer 21

The coroner’s office is responsible for notifying next of kin.

Question 22

When can the scene of a death investigation be altered or released?

Answer 22

The scene may be altered or released upon agreement by the case investigators involved.

Question 23

What should be done before searching a death scene at a non-public location?

Answer 23

It is preferred to obtain a search warrant before searching a non-public death scene.

Question 24

What role does the Forensics Services Unit play in evidence collection?

Answer 24

They are responsible for photographing, video recording, and collecting evidence at the scene.

Question 25

How should clothing material found on the body be handled prior to autopsy?

Answer 25

All clothing material found on the body shall remain intact and be presented to the Medical Examiner’s Office prior to autopsy.

Question 26

What happens to indoor homicide scenes after initial investigative work is completed?

Answer 26

All indoor homicide scenes shall be sealed until initial investigative work is completed.

Question 27

Who is responsible for contacting the department, coroner’s office, or emergency care unit upon the death of a terminally ill patient?

Answer 27

The hospice nurse is not required to contact them.

Question 28

Why may officers be dispatched to a death scene where a hospice nurse has pronounced a patient dead?

Answer 28

To stand by while the nurse removes medication like morphine from the premises.

Question 29

When do officers who respond to assist at a death scene supervised by a registered nurse employed by hospice complete an electronic case report?

Answer 29

Only if requested to do so by the nurse or a supervisor.

Question 30

Who should attend the investigative meeting to determine the need for further investigation after gathering preliminary results?

Answer 30

Coroner, deputy coroner, Personal Crimes Section case investigator, Forensic Services Unit employee.

Question 31

Who should initiate the meeting to organize and prepare the case for court presentation before the trial date?

Answer 31

Personal Crimes Section supervisor.

Question 32

Who should be included in the meeting to organize and prepare the case for court presentation at least two weeks before the trial date if deemed necessary?

Answer 32

The State Medical Examiner and/or representatives from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Question 33

What should initial responding officers do at suspicious death scenes?

Answer 33

Preserve the crime scene to the best of their abilities.

Question 34

How should officers establish the crime scene at suspicious death scenes?

Answer 34

Establish an ‘inner’ crime scene and mark it with crime scene/barrier tape.

Question 35

What is considered a questionable death in Fayette County?

Answer 35

Any death with circumstances that could lead to a criminal investigation.

Question 36

Who should be called and dispatched to the scene of all homicide investigations in Fayette County?

Answer 36

The Personal Crimes Section and the Forensics Services Unit.

Question 37

What should be documented for all employees entering the inner crime scene?

Answer 37

Their identity on a Crime Scene Entry Log.

Question 38

When should the Death Investigation electronic case report be submitted by reporting officers?

Answer 38

As soon as possible and no later than the end of the shift.

Question 39

Who should not enter the inner crime scene area until evidence collection is completed?

Answer 39

Officers and investigators in close proximity to witnesses or suspects.

Question 40

Who has the discretion of allowing others to enter the crime scene?

Answer 40

Forensic Services Unit employees and the lead investigator.