19-07 Line of Duty Death/Critical Injury Notifications

Line-of-Duty Death/Critical Injury Notifications

• Purpose: Establish procedures for notifying a member's family in the event of a line-of-duty death or critical injury.

Terminology

• Hospital Liaison Member: First supervisor to arrive at the hospital.
• Notification Officer: Designated by the Chief of Police or Bureau Commander, responsible for providing notice to the member's family.

Procedure

• Communication regarding notifications should be restricted to the telephone whenever possible.
• The name of the affected member must never be released to the media before immediate family members living in the region are notified.

Notification Officer Guidance

• Timeliness takes precedence over protocol in the notification process.
• Notification must always be made in person and never alone.
• A police chaplain and Chief of Police or designee shall accompany the Notification Officer.
• If a Police Chaplain is not available, a senior ranking member at the scene will designate another member to accompany the Notification Officer.

Gathering Information

• Notification Officer should gather the following information before contacting family members:
  • Brief description of the incident/cause and location of death or injury.
  • Approximate time of death or injury.
  • Location of the affected member and disposition of their personal property.

Notification Officer Awareness

• Whenever the health of a family member is a concern, KCFD personnel shall be requested to stand-by at the location of notification.
• As soon as a family member sees the Notification Officer, they will know something is wrong.
• If the member has already died, relay that information using words like "died" and "dead", rather than "gone away".
• Notification Officer may be affected by the death and should understand that showing emotions is acceptable.
• Reactions of family members may include hysteria, anger, fainting, physical violence, denial, shock, etc.

Transportation and Care

• If the family member wants to go to the hospital, they should be transported via police vehicle.
• Young children or persons with special needs may be present, and the Department should be prepared to handle immediate care needs.
• Notification Officer should notify the senior ranking member at the hospital that the family is en route.

Family Assistance

• The family may request the assistance of a specific Department member to provide emotional support and aid with the family's understanding of Department procedures.
• Notification Officer will communicate this information to the senior ranking member as soon as possible.

Hospital Liaison Responsibilities

• Coordinate an area or room for immediate family members, the Chief of Police or designee, the Notification Officer, and only others requested by the immediate family members.
• Coordinate an area or room for fellow police members and friends.
• Coordinate a press staging area.