Policy 5/107.03 Dispatch Of Units On 421 And Natural Deaths

Question 1

Patrol units will be dispatched on 421 calls which:

Answer 1

1. Are suspicious in nature.
2. Are related to unknown trouble calls.
3. Involve injuries as a result of criminal activity or traffic accident. 4. Are the result of a gunshot.
4. Other circumstances indicating need for police involvement.

Question 2

In medical emergencies, patient should only be transported by ambulance or other medical conveyances. Escorting civilian vehicles under emergency circumstances is extremely dangerous and must be avoided. All emergency escorts must be conducted in accordance with Department Policy 5/207.00 -Driving/Vehicle Procedure/Law Enforcement Escorts. True or false?

Answer 2

True.

Question 3

In response to homicides, in custody and suspicious deaths, the Patrol Officer will:

Answer 3

1. Secures the scene, obtain all contact information from witnesses, family members, person reporting and/or suspects.
2. Request a crime scene analyst via communications or by phone to respond.
3. Notify the Homicide section via communications or by phone Monday through Friday from 0700-1600 hrs. Notifies Violent/Major Crimes section Monday through Friday from 1600-0700 hrs, all holidays and 24 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday.
4. Maintain the security of the scene, witnesses, family members, person reporting, and or suspects until relieved by Homicide or Violent/Major Crimes personnel.

Question 4

In response to homicides, in custody and suspicious deaths, the supervisor will:

Answer 4

1. Respond to the scene, confirm with the patrol officer that the death appears to be suspicious or the result of a homicide.
2. Ensure Crime Scene Analysts have been requested.
3. Ensure detectives from Homicide or Violent/Major Crimes have been notified.

Question 5

In response to dead bodies other than homicides, in custody deaths, suspicious deaths, the arriving Patrol Officer will:

Answer 5

1. Secures the scene, gathers witnesses and related information.
2. Notifies the Clark County Coroners office via communications.
3. Request Criminalistics.
4. For deaths that appear to be natural, coordinates with the Corners Office investigator to ensure photographs are taken.
5. Ensures photographs are taken on all suicides, overdose and other deaths that are considered “not natural.”
6. Maintains presence at the scene until no longer needed by the Deputy Coroner.
7. Completes the Dead Body Incident Report by the end of shift. The Dead Body Incident Report Narrative Guide (LVMPD Form 448) is available on the templates to assist in the completion of the report. The narrative portion will be detailed as this may be the only documentation of the death.

Question 6

In response to dead bodies other than homicides, in custody deaths, suspicious deaths, the Supervisor will:

Answer 6

1. Arrive on the scene and confirms with the patrol officer that the death is not suspicious or the result of a homicide.
2. Ensures the Crime Scene Analyst have been requested.
3. Ensures that the Deputy Coroner has been requested.
4. For Deaths that appear to be natural, that the patrol officer coordinated with the Coroners Office investigator to ensure photographs are taken.
5. Ensures that patrol officer coordinated that photographs are taken on all suicides, overdose and other deaths that are considered “not natural.”
6. Ensures that the Dead Body Incident Report is complete and detailed.
7. When detectives from Homicide and/or Violent/Major Crimes respond to the scene and assume investigative responsibility, completes any needed reports.

Question 7

The Dead Body Incident Report will NOT be used to document a homicide or in custody death. True or False?

Answer 7

True.

Question 8

If the responding officer, supervisor or detectives believe the witnesses, family members, and or person reporting would benefit from the assistance of a recognized volunteer program (TIPS), a volunteer should be requested through Communications. True or False?

Answer 8

True.

Question 9

Upon arrival the Deputy Coroner is responsible for investigating all deaths that are not determined to be a homicide, in custody or suspicious. LVMPD will assist the Deputy Coroner as requested with their investigation. True or false?

Answer 9

True.

Question 10

Responsibility of the vehicles of the decedent on a dead body call:

Answer 10

If the Coroner determines the decedent has a vehicle nearby the scene, the Coroner will remove and impound anything of value. The Coroner will lock the vehicle and advise the landowner, or person responsible for the property, that the property owner can have the vehicle towed, if needed. Typically waiting a few days allows the Coroner time to try to notify the responsible party, without causing unneeded stress and cost on the surviving responsible party. Towing costs are often more costly than the vehicle is worth. Additionally, the responsible person may have challenges with obtaining the proper paperwork that the tow company requests, causing even greater hardship.

If the vehicle is a hazard on a roadway, LVMPD will have it towed.

Question 11

Responsibilities of structures on a dead body call:

Answer 11

If there is no responsible person at the scene to care for the structure, and the structure cannot easily be secured, the Coroner will call their on call company to have the structure secured, and will remain on the scene for the on-call company to secure the property, if there has been no damage by the police.

If LVMPD damages the structure, officers will call the on-call company, through dispatch, and will remain on the scene until the property is secured.

Question 12

In response to deceased children under the age of 18 years old, the Homicide Section Lieutenant WILL BE notified on ALL child related deaths.

The Homicide Section will respond to child deaths resulting from the following:

Answer 12

1. Non accidental.
2. An intentional act.
3. Injuries and/or deaths resulting from blunt force trauma, abusive head trauma or the child may have been “shaken.”
4. Medical neglect.

Question 13

In response to deceased children, a patrol officer and patrol supervisor WILL BE dispatched on ALL events related to the death of a child.

Upon arriving at the scene, the Patrol Officer will:

Answer 13

1. Secure the scene, obtain all contact information from witnesses, family members, person reporting and/or suspects.
2. Request a Crime Scene Analyst via Communications or by phone to respond.
3. Notify the Homicide and Abuse/Neglect Sections via Communications or by phone Monday through Friday from 0700 – 1600 hours. Notifies Violent/Major Crimes section Monday through Friday from 1600 – 0700 hours, holidays and 24 hours a day On Saturday and Sunday.
4. Maintain the security of the scene, witnesses, family members, person reporting, and/or suspects until relieved by Homicide, Abuse/Neglect and/or Violent/Major crimes personnel.

Question 14

In response to deceased children, upon arrival where there is a deceased child at the hospital, the patrol officer will:

Answer 14

1. Secure the scene, obtain all contact information from witnesses, family members, person reporting and/or suspects.
2. Maintain visual contact of the deceased child and document all physical interaction with family members.
3. If there are confirmed signs of abuse/neglect allegations, DOES NOT allow family members to hold the deceased child (the child is the crime scene).
4. If there are only possible indicators of abuse, monitors all family interaction and reports to responding investigators.
5. If there are questions as to how to proceed contact the on-call Homicide or Abuse Neglect supervisor for guidance based on the criteria established above.
6. Request a Crime Scene Analyst via Communications or by phone to respond.
7. Notify the Homicide and Abuse/Neglect Sections via Communications or by phone Monday through Friday from 0700 – 1600 hours. Notifies Violent/Major Crimes Section Monday through Friday from 1600 – 0700 hours, holidays and 24 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday.
8. Maintain the security of the scene, witnesses, family members, person reporting, and/or suspects until relieved by Homicide, Abuse/Neglect and/or Violent/Major Crimes personnel.

Question 15

In response to deceased children, the Supervisor will respond to the scene and:

Answer 15

1. Ensure Crime Scene Analyst have been requested.

2. Ensure Homicide, Abuse/Neglect and/or Violent/Major Crimes have been notified.

Question 16

In response to in custody deaths, the Homicide Section Lieutenant or designee will be notified of all in custody deaths involving a Police/Corrections Officer or an inmate housed at CCDC or a medical facility. True or False?

Answer 16

True.

Question 17

An in custody death is defined as the death of a person who is:

Answer 17

1. Under arrest.
2. An inmate housed at a CCDC or medical facility.
3. Has been contacted or detained by officers and during the contact the death occurs (Examples of contact would be a vehicle or pedestrian stop, a person commits suicide when officers are in close proximity or have the person contained).