Rule 205 - Death investigation

Question 1

Next of Kin

Answer 1

1) Spouse
2) Son or Daughter
3) Father Mother
4) Legal Guardian
5) Grandson Granddaughter
6) Brother Sister
7) Aunt or Uncle

Question 2

What is Sudden Death

Answer 2

Death due to natural causes | Unattended Natural Death - No violence or suspicion of Violence.

Question 3

Dispatcher Responsibilities

Answer 3

1) Dispatch enough personnel
2) Patrol Supervisor
3) District Detectives
4) Medical Services
5) Notify Operations Duty Supervisor

Question 4

First responding officers 3
Main objectives

Answer 4

1) Determine if Victim Live or Dead
2) Determine if Crime committed - Apprehend suspect or give descriptions
3) Secure Scene - Witnesses, suspects and any other persons present

Question 5

Responsibilities of first responding officer

Answer 5

Question 6

Officers assigned to accompany victim to hospital

Answer 6

1) Get condition of victim
2) Identify witnesses/family members of victim
3) Handling of clothings/evidence on victim. Do not mix
4) Obtain attending physician name
5) Time of death/pronounced

Question 7

The Medical Examiner can rule the following

Answer 7

1) Sudden Death
2) Decline Jurisdiction
3) Order release of body

Question 8

Homicide Unit Investigates the following

Answer 8

1) Homicide
2) Violent or suspicious or sudden death where cause is unknown
3) Suicide at police facility, person in police custody, Suffolk County Correctional Facility
4) Unidentified bodies
5) Aggravated battery - Victim will likely die
6) Advised by DA or ME

Question 9

Who is able to remove a dead body

Answer 9

1) Medical Examiner
2) District Attorney or designee

Question 10

What happens if body is found in water

Answer 10

Move to nearest shelter - Notate location and position prior to moving. Take pictures if able

Question 11

What if body is in public place

Answer 11

Place on stretcher in exact position found - Mark area - outline body - Photograph

Pay attention to body’s position and blood/fluid secretions

Question 12

ME declines, no next of kin

Answer 12

ME shall remove body

Question 13

ME declines, next of Kin

Answer 13

Next of Kin processes funeral arrangements

Question 14

Detectives shall do the following if ME declines and next of kin is known

Answer 14

1) If notified prior to 1.1: Place victim’s name in box and narrative
2) If not notified prior to 1.1 but is known: Do not notate name on 1.1. Detectives to do a follow up report once kin is notified

Question 15

Is officer to stay on scene until
Body is removed? And who can remove a body

Answer 15

Yes

1) ME office
2) Undertaker

Question 16

Who handles the removal of victims on fire scenes

Answer 16

Fire department

Question 17

Where do the fire personnel place the victim and where are they transported to

Answer 17

1) Police Wagon
2) Office of Chief Medical Examiner

Question 18

Can police personnel
Handle victims

Answer 18

No

Question 19

When can a vehicle be removed from a crime scene

Answer 19

1) When photographed
2) After latent prints

Question 20

How shall a vehicle be towed from a crime scene and to where

Answer 20

Flatbed tow truck - safe-keeping to station

Question 21

Scope of search of non suspicion of misconduct

Answer 21

Areas that directly relate to circumstances and cause of death

Question 22

Where shall keys be delivered to

Answer 22

Medical Examiner unless they authorize police to take

Question 23

Who is responsible for property if ME office accepts jurisdiction

Answer 23

ME’s office.

Question 24

What happens to a person’s money

Answer 24

ME delivers to a person entitled to its custody or possession

Question 25

How long does an entitled person has to collect money

Answer 25

60 days

Question 26

What happens if money is not claimed after allotted time

Answer 26

ME delivers money to Public Administrator

Question 27

What happens to property if ME decline’s jurisdiction

Answer 27

Take to district , inventory, turn over to DS.

Question 28

When can property be released

Answer 28

1) Inventoried
2) Itemized
3) Recorded on Property Receipt

Question 29

Do officers determine cause of death?

Answer 29

No - Make no indication

Question 30

How shall Suddens be labeled on Reports

Answer 30

Death Investigations

Question 31

Scene security: How many feet

Answer 31

50 feet all around

Question 32

What period of time is important in controlling and managing crime scene

Answer 32

First 15-20 minutes

Question 33

Who is in charge of all death investigations

Answer 33

Suffolk County District Attorneys Office

Question 34

Who is responsible for notifying next of Kin and how

Answer 34

Detectives - In person if possible.

Question 35

For arrest warrants, after reviewing with DA, who must you get permission from

Answer 35

1) Approval from Homicide Unit Commander
2) Chief of Homicide Division- DAs office

Question 36

Who conducts search if ordered by ME
Office

Answer 36

Patrol Supervisor