Fort Worth Fire Department Standard Operating Procedure PDF

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE TITLE: ADMINISTRATION, INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES INVOLVING LINE OF DUTY DEATHS NUMBER: S 1118 EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 1, 1996...

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE TITLE: ADMINISTRATION, INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES INVOLVING LINE OF DUTY DEATHS NUMBER: S 1118 EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 1, 1996 H. L. McMillen Fire Chief REPLACES: NONE Purpose: To establish procedures for an internal investigation to be conducted in the event of a line of duty death. General Information: i. A comprehensive and accurate internal investigation must be conducted when a line of duty death occurs. III. Stressful circumstances demand clear, mandatory guidelines be established for conducting an in- ternal investigation. A Fire Chief's Board of Inquiry will be convened to carry out the investigation. Instructions/Procedures: I. Emergency Scene: Immediately secure the scene and restrict access to those who have an abso- lute need to enter/work in the area. II. Fire Incident: Immediately secure scene and treat as a crime scene until fire cause is determined by Fire Investigators and the Board of Inquiry has completed their on-scene investigation. A. Maintain control of scene/building until all investigation needs are completed. B. Notify Police Department for crime scene investigation assistance as appropriate, and to provide 24-hour scene security. C. Assign Mobile Command Post to the scene for investigators' logistical support. D. Ensure incident notification to Risk Management and other agencies/persons as necessary to support the investigation. E. Notify FWFD PIO for photo/video support. F. Secure and impound all related and/or involved equipment; treat/handle as evidence using chain of custody practices. G. Provide for a scale drawing of the building if existing plans are not available (City engineers, etc.). FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE S 1118 ADMINISTRATION, INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES INVOLVING LINE OF DUTY DEATHS AUGUST 1, 1996 PAGE 2 OF 4 H. Establish a site for interviews and CISD, e.g., a fire station or the Fire Training Academy. 1. Hold all involved personnel until each person can be individually interviewed. 2. Assign a Chief Officer to act as coordinator. a. Quickly assemble a staff as necessary to interview and record statements. 3. Statements shall be treated with the confidentiality associated with this type of inves- tigation and forwarded to the Board of Inquiry. 4. Provide critical incident stress debriefing prior to releasing personnel. III. The Fire Alarm Office shall assemble a complete record of radio communications and all records pertinent to the incident. IV. The Fire Chief shall appoint a Board of Inquiry to investigate the incident, outline the department's objectives of the investigation, and appoint a chairperson. This Board shall be established within 24 hours of the incident. A. The Board should be kept small but representative of the various ranks, Divisions, and Em- ployee Associations to the extent possible. B. The Board members shall be relieved of normal duties and will devote all of their time to the investigation until the task is completed, which could take several months. C. A coordinator from the City Manager's Office shall be requested. This person should have the knowledge and authority to facilitate needed input from City departments and to expedite the investigative process when necessary. D. Administrative support will be provided to the Board, and will include but not necessarily be limited to: 1. Comfortable accommodations which will meet the needs of the investigation. 2. A computer and audio/visual equipment and telephones. 3. A stenographer and computer operator as needed. 4. Guidelines for conducting interviews. 5. CISD support. 6. A standard set of questions to ensure the information obtained is thorough and con- sistent. FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE S 1118 ADMINISTRATION, INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES INVOLVING LINE OF DUTY DEATHS AUGUST 1, 1996 PAGE 3 OF 4 7. Appointing a Liaison Officer to: a. Make arrangements for representatives of the U.S. Fire Administration, NFPA, IAFC, IAFF, and NIOSH where required. b. Discuss any particular needs of an autopsy with the Medical Examiner's Of- fice, e.g., a toxicology report, etc. as addressed in FEMA pamphlet FA-156, Firefighter Autopsy Protocol. c. Ensure scheduling and dedicated space is provided for CISD support. d. Ensure the Board is not intimidated or influenced by outside departments or agencies. e. Ensure no statements are made until the Board delivers its report to the Fire Chief. V. The Board's general duties shall include: A. On-site familiarization of the incident scene and actions that occurred. B. Ensuring all necessary photos and video documentation is completed. C. Reviewing written statements. D. Coordinating any necessary equipment testing with outside agencies (SCBA, protective clothing, PASS devices, radios, etc.). E. Preparing written press release. The Fire Chief, Firefighters Association, President and Board of Inquiry Chairperson will jointly release the information at the same news confer- ence. F. Interviewing all involved officers/firefighters. G. Reviewing chronological dispatch reports. H. Viewing all personal protective equipment (including SCBA). I. Coordinating with staff/agencies to provide scale drawings of structure involved. J. Constructing from communications chronology a time line sequence of events chart. K. Reconstructing scene from statements (interviews/diagrams/designs). L. Writing report. M. Requesting Law Department review final draft. N. Submitting report including lessons learned and recommendations from Board. FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE S 1118 ADMINISTRATION, INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES INVOLVING LINE OF DUTY DEATHS AUGUST 1, 1996 PAGE 4 OF 4 O. Reviewing report with affected families and involved Fire personnel prior to making report public. P. Fully utilizing all resources available, public and private. Examples of such resources would be NIOSH, National Fire Administration, IAFF, Centers for Disease Control, etc., private agencies such as universities, hospital research personnel, and independent testing facili- ties. VI. News/media information shall be released by the Fire Chief or his/her designee and will only include information released by the Board, the Fire Chief, and/or the Medical Examiner's Office. A. The PIO shall: 1. Provide constant updated information as to the status of the Board of Inquiry's work. 2. While on scene: a. Select site as close to scene as possible, but still far enough removed from the site that will accommodate news conferences and protect media and offi- cials from the elements. b. Schedule regular news conferences at predetermined times. This will lessen the call volume that is sure to ensue at this type of incident from not only lo- cal media, but state and national news groups. c. As much as possible, the Fire Chief or his designee should conduct these briefings. 3. Dispel rumors quickly through instant correct information. 4. Issue summary of what occurred using known facts only for an early press release. 5. Be prepared for constant news media inquiry. 6. Personally brief and update affected family(ies). 7. Schedule press conference and provide through the Board of Inquiry as many facts as known. DO NOT GUESS! References: FEMA FA-156, Part L, Code of Federal Regulations, 42USC 3796 H. L. McMILLEN FIRE CHIEF Acknowledgment: I have read and I understand this publication: PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS PAGE.