Preliminary Homicide Investigation

Question 1

The _______ and appropriate actions of the first officers on scene during the initial stages of suspicious death and homicide investigations will assist in achieving a __________ to the investigation and contribute to a successful prosecution.

Answer 1

prompt

quick resolution

Question 2

Prelim. Death Investigation
Supervision
 Supervisory Officer mandatory attendance
 Divisional Detective mandatory attendance
 Officer in Charge mandatory notification
 Unit Commander mandatory notification

Question 3

As set out in their mandate, Detective Operations – Homicide (Homicide) shall
 lead the investigation of all homicides that occur within the City of Toronto;
 lead the investigation of all criminal acts which result in serious bodily harm or life threatening injury to a police officer while on duty;
 support field officers with the investigation of suspicious deaths;
 lead the investigation of deaths in police custody that are not related to the discharge of a Service firearm; and
 provide investigative support to the Coroner in the investigation of deaths in police custody.

Question 4

When an autopsy is ordered as a result of an apparent suicide or accident where the only witness is or has been an intimate partner, past or present, the autopsy will be performed by a _______ _______ _______ who currently performs homicide autopsies. The autopsy will be conducted as if the death had taken place under suspicious circumstances

Answer 4

Regional Coroner’s pathologist

Question 5

Sudden Unexpected Death of a Child

Every sudden unexpected death of a child ___________ of age shall be treated as suspicious and a member of the On–Call Team – Homicide Squad (On–Call Homicide Team) shall be consulted by the attending divisional detective

Answer 5

under 18 years

Question 6

The Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC), a sub-unit of Detective Operations – Sex Crimes, shall be notified when investigating a sudden unexpected death of a child under the age of ____ in any division City-Wide

Answer 6

16

Question 7

Death of a child under 16
The attending divisional detective shall consult with a member of the CYAC prior to leaving the scene and/or conducting formal interviews of caregivers.

CYAC investigators are available from__________ hours to investigate child abuse cases

Answer 7

0730 to 2200

Question 8

Pediatric Death Review Committee (PDRC)

The PDRC is composed of two sections based on the nature and circumstances of the death: PDRC – Child Welfare and PDRC – Medical.

PDRC – Child Welfare must review all cases of deaths involving children and youth when the child, the youth or their family was receiving, or had received, the services of a Children’s Aid Society (CAS) or Indigenous child wellbeing society within __________ of the death. The PDRC – Child Welfare panel includes police officers, crown attorneys, senior staff from the Office of the Chief Coroner and representatives from Child Welfare organizations across the province; and is chaired by the Regional Chief Coroner for the Province of Ontario.

Answer 8

12 months

Question 9

Pediatric Death Review Committee (PDRC)
PDRC – Medical reviews the deaths of children where issues or concerns pertaining to the medical diagnosis or provision of care have been identified. These cases are done on a discretionary basis and are referred by the relevant _______________. The PDRC – Medical panel includes ________________, forensic pathologists, senior staff from the Office of the Chief Coroner; and is also chaired by the Regional Chief Coroner for the province of Ontario

Answer 9

Regional Supervising Coroner

pediatric experts

Question 10

Identification of the Deceased
The investigator heading an investigation or a police officer designated by this investigator SHALL attend the morgue and be physically present when a deceased is identified under the following circumstances
 ______ ___________ or other related criminal offences
 cases where the _________________ has requested the presence of another officer
 cases where an _______ has been or is likely to be called, or
 the Coroner believes it is necessary due to the ________________, or the condition of the person doing the identification.

Answer 10

homicide, suspected homicide
investigating officer
inquest
nature of the case

Question 11

First Police Officer
The first police officer to arrive at the scene of a suspicious death or suspected homicide shall be responsible for _________________________________________________ while awaiting the arrival of an appropriate investigator.

Answer 11

offender management,
preservation of the evidence and
crime scene

Question 12

First Police Officer on scene request the attendance of

• Supervisor
• Divisional Detective
• FIS
• Coroner

Question 13

Upon discovering
 the sudden unexpected death of a child under 18 years of age, a suspicious death or suspected homicide, which may include
 an unexplained or unknown cause of death
 found human remains
 obvious or suspected foul play
 any other suspicious circumstance shall treat the death as suspicious

Question 14

The Investigation Questionnaire for Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infants in Appendix B was developed by the _____________________ and is completed by the Coroner, except where the death of an infant is a confirmed homicide in which case it will be completed by police

Answer 14

Office of the Chief Coroner

Question 15

When collecting or seizing evidence shall
 ensure it remains _______________ until examined by a detective or investigator from FIS
 if the evidence must be disturbed, ___________________, and mark and note its original location

Answer 15

protected and undisturbed

seize it for protection

Question 16

The Preliminary Police Report was developed by the Office of the Chief Coroner and shall be completed, in addition to the applicable eReport, for the death of a child under 5 years of age, and forwarded to the Coroner’s Office prior to the post mortem examination.

Question 17

provide the original eReport number to the
 other attending officers who may need to add supplementary information
 Officer in Charge
 divisional detective
 Investigator – FIS
 Major Case Manager – Detective Operations – Homicide
 Investigator – CYAC, as applicable

Question 18

Supervisory Officer
The first supervisory officer to arrive at the scene of a suspicious death or suspected homicide shall be responsible for the ________ and _________ of the uniform response.

Answer 18

quality and thoroughness

Question 19

A Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO) shall not be deployed to examine any scene where there is a ________________________- or where the death of any person is of a suspicious nature or a suspected homicide

Answer 19

sudden unexpected death of a child

Question 20

Who does the supervisor at a Preliminary Homicide/ suspicious death or suspected homicide notify?

Answer 20

OIC
ENSURES a member of HOM is notified
Divisional Det notifies HOM

Question 21

Detective – Division
The divisional detective shall be responsible for ensuring ____________________ and that the appropriate notifications are made

Answer 21

effective management of the crime scene

Question 22

The Preliminary Police Report was developed by the Office of the Chief Coroner and shall be completed, in addition to the applicable eReports, for a death of a child under 5 years of age. Following the post mortem examination, a _______________________will be completed by the _________ and forwarded to the investigator

Answer 22

Preliminary Autopsy Findings Report

Pathologist

Question 23

Officer in Charge

The Officer in Charge is responsible for ensuring an appropriate uniform response, and in the absence of the detective sergeant, an appropriate investigative response.

Notifies

• Unit Commander, if on duty
• the Officer in Charge – TPOC

Question 24

Investigator – Detective Operations – Forensic Identification Services
The FIS investigator shall take charge of the scene in the absence of a Homicide investigator.
Upon arrival at the scene of a suspicious death or suspected homicide, in addition to complying with unit specific guidelines, shall co–ordinate the collection of evidence in consultation with the attending homicide squad investigator, divisional detective, and/or Coroner/Forensic Pathologist as applicable

Question 25

Homicide Investigation means an investigation led by Detective Operations – Homicide (Homicide) into the circumstances surrounding a sudden death where there is
 obvious or suspected foul play
 the cause of death cannot be explained
 found human remains
 any other suspicious circumstance

Question 26

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) means the sudden death of an infant under one (1) year of age, which remains unexplained after a thorough investigation which MUST include a complete autopsy,
examination of the death scene,
a police investigation and
a review of the child’s clinical history.

Question 27

Sudden Unexplained Death means the death investigation of a child due to
 SID
 accidental injury
 non–accidental injury due to neglect or abuse, or
 a previously undiagnosed natural disease process and may include
- negative autopsy but evidence of an old healed fracture which has not been adequately explained by the investigation
- negative autopsy but a previous history of child abuse
- negative autopsy but some positive toxicology, which although not considered to be a cause of death cannot be explained (e.g. blood alcohol of 30mg in a five month old child)
Where there is significant concern regarding any part of the death investigation, the cause of death should be classified as a SUD.