21-12 Death Investigations

Death Investigations

• This procedural instruction provides guidelines and procedures for handling cases of death, excluding deaths resulting from vehicular accidents.

Officer Responsibilities

• Request a sergeant to respond to the scene and supervise the preliminary investigation.
• Contact Violent Crimes Division (VCD) personnel from the scene before any other notification is made.
• Provide all pertinent information to VCD personnel regarding the death, including the name and rank/title of the person notified and the time notified.

Notification of Medical Examiner's Office

• The Medical Examiner's (ME) Office will be notified from the scene of all confirmed death investigations.
• VCD personnel will determine if their response to the scene is necessary; if not, the reporting officer will make the notification to the ME.

Personal Property

• Personal property on the deceased's body will be recovered by the ME in the event of a criminal investigation or suspicious death.
• Any dispute over personal property is a civil dispute, and members will only keep the peace.

Crime Scene Investigation

• Crime Scene Investigation Section (CSIS) will only be notified by VCD personnel to respond to the scene.
• Officers will assess whether a crime has been committed and if the victim's death was possibly other than natural causes.

Protecting the Crime Scene

• Establish an adequate, secure perimeter consisting of a primary and secondary (inner and outer) crime scene.
• Cover the victim using only a new and unused disposable blanket if the victim is in a place where they are visible to the public or at risk of contamination of evidence.

Maintaining a Crime Scene Log

• Maintain a Crime Scene Log, Form 227 P.D.
• Initiate all preliminary investigative procedures and complete necessary reports, e.g., "Dead Body," as instructed by VCD.

Case of Apparent Death Other Than Natural

• Treat all apparent deaths other than natural as potential homicide scenes.
• Follow additional procedures outlined in Section II, B, of this directive.

Cases of Apparent Natural Death

• When the ME determines that the cause of death is natural, the primary officer dispatched to the scene will contact by phone or in person the specific physician, relative, or other responsible person associated with the deceased, and the mortuary.

Reporting Requirements

• Document all information in the call notes if a physician is willing to sign the death certificate; an Incident Report will not be needed.
• Complete an Incident Report titled, "Dead Body," only when the deceased was not under medical care, and a physician cannot be contacted or declines to sign the death certificate, or a relative or other responsible person associated with the deceased will not make arrangements for removal to a mortuary or medical facility.

This quiz covers the guidelines and procedures for death investigations by the Kansas City, MO. Police Department. It references Missouri law and provides instructions for handling such cases.