Des Plaines Police Department Death Investigation PDF

Policy Des Plaines Police Department 330 Des Plaines PD Policy Manual Death Investigation 330.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The investigation of cases involving death include those ranging from natural cause to homicide. Some causes of death may not be readily apparent and some cases differ substantially from...

Policy Des Plaines Police Department 330 Des Plaines PD Policy Manual Death Investigation 330.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The investigation of cases involving death include those ranging from natural cause to homicide. Some causes of death may not be readily apparent and some cases differ substantially from what they appeared to be initially. The thoroughness of death investigations cannot be emphasized enough. 330.2 INVESTIGATION CONSIDERATIONS Death investigations require certain actions be taken. Paramedics shall be called in all suspected death cases unless the cause of death is obvious (e.g., when the subject has been decapitated or the body is decomposed). Officers are not authorized to pronounce death. A supervisor shall be notified in all death investigations. The Medical Examiner should be notified in all deaths and shall be notified under those conditions listed below in this policy. The responsible supervisor should determine whether follow-up investigation is required and ensure that a lead investigator is assigned when appropriate. The responsible supervisor should determine the appropriate means of removing a dead body from the scene when required. Only officers who have successfully completed the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) program in death and homicide investigations, or who have been granted a waiver by the board, shall be assigned as lead investigator on any death or homicide investigation (50 ILCS 705/10.11). 330.2.1 MEDICAL EXAMINER REQUEST Every Medical Examiner has the responsibility to investigate the following as soon as he knows or is informed that the dead body of any person is found, or lying within his/her county, whose death is suspected of being (55 ILCS 5/3-3013): (a) A sudden or violent death, whether apparently suicidal, homicidal or accidental. (b) A maternal or fetal death due to abortion, or any death due to a sex crime or a crime against nature. (c) A death where the circumstances are suspicious, obscure, mysterious or otherwise unexplained or where, in the written opinion of the attending physician, the cause of death is not determined. (d) A death where addiction to alcohol or to any drug may have been a contributory cause. (e) A death where the decedent was not attended by a licensed physician. The body shall not be disturbed or moved from the position or place of death without permission of the Medical Examiner. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/02/13, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Des Plaines Police Department Death Investigation - 1 Des Plaines Police Department Des Plaines PD Policy Manual Death Investigation 330.2.2 SEARCHING DEAD BODIES The Medical Examiner or Deputy Medical Examiner is generally the only person permitted to search a body known to be dead from any of the circumstances set forth in 55 ILCS 5/3-3013. The only exception is that an officer is permitted to search the body of a person killed in a traffic collision for the limited purpose of locating an anatomical donor card. If such a donor card is located, the Medical Examiner or Deputy Medical Examiner shall be promptly notified. Should exigent circumstances indicate to an officer that any search of a known dead body is warranted prior to the arrival of the Medical Examiner or Deputy Medical Examiner; the investigating officer shall first obtain verbal consent from the Medical Examiner or Deputy Medical Examiner (55 ILCS 5/3-3019). Whenever possible, a witness, preferably a relative to the deceased or a member of the household, should be requested to remain at the scene with the officer pending the arrival of the Medical Examiner. The name and address of this person shall be included in the narrative of the death report. Whenever personal effects are removed from the body of the deceased by the Deputy Medical Examiner, a receipt shall be obtained. This receipt shall be attached to the death report. 330.2.3 DEATH NOTIFICATION When practical, and if not handled by the Medical Examiner’s Office, notification to the next-ofkin of the deceased person shall be made, in person, by the officer assigned to the incident. If the next-of-kin lives in another jurisdiction, a law enforcement official from that jurisdiction shall be requested to make the personal notification. If the relatives live outside this county, the Coroner or Medical Examiner may be requested to make the notification. The Medical Examiner needs to know if notification has been made. Assigned detectives may need to talk to the next-of-kin. 330.2.4 FUNERAL HOME NOTIFICATION On all non-medical examiner cases, officers should make every attempt to determine the deceased funeral home of choice and make arrangements for pick up. If it is impractical for the funeral home to pick up the body, the on call private contractor should be contacted for body transport to the funeral home. If a funeral home cannot be determined, then the on call private contractor is to transport the body to the Medical Examiner's Office. 330.2.5 DEAD BODY TRANSPORTS The police department will only transport dead bodies as a last resort. The on call private contractor will be contacted for all body transports. In certain circumstances, such as when the Des Plaines Fire Department ambulance is already on a scene and waiting for a body disposition from a public location that requires the body to be transported immediately, the ambulance will be available to transport the body to one of the local funeral homes for temporary storage and pickup by the private contractor, if needed. 330.2.6 TEMPORARY DEAD BODY STORAGE In certain circumstances a dead body might need to be relocated pending the arrival of a private contractor for transport. If a Des Plaines Fire Department ambulance is already on the scene and the body needs to be transported immediately, the ambulance will be available for local transport Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/02/13, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Des Plaines Police Department Death Investigation - 2 Des Plaines Police Department Des Plaines PD Policy Manual Death Investigation of the body to one of the on call funeral homes for temporary storage until the private contractor arrives for transport. Prior to the ambulance transporting the body, an officer will confirm that the on call funeral home is expecting the body, and that the private contractor has been notified to respond to the on call funeral home. Officers shall assure that there is a tag identifying the deceased on the outside of the body bag. An officer or supervisor shall confirm that the pick-up has been made by the private contractor. 330.2.7 UNIDENTIFIED DEAD BODIES If the identity of a dead body cannot be established after the Medical Examiner arrives, the Medical Examiner’s office will issue a “John Doe" or "Jane Doe” number for the report. 330.2.8 DEATH INVESTIGATION REPORTING All incidents involving a death shall be documented on the appropriate form. 330.2.9 SUSPECTED HOMICIDE If the initially assigned officer suspects that the death involves a homicide or other suspicious circumstances, the Criminal Investigations Section shall be notified to determine the possible need for a detective to respond to the scene for further immediate investigation. 330.2.10 DECEDENTS PROPERTY In all deaths, whenever practical, attempts shall be made to remove any jewelry or personal effects from the deceased and turn the items over to a family member. One exception to this would be if the death were criminal in nature, and removing anything from the body would increase the chances of destroying evidence. 330.3 SPECIMEN SUBMISSION As soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after receipt of any blood, buccal or tissue specimen from the Medical Examiner, the Criminal Investigations Deputy Chief shall ensure the specimen and department case number is submitted to an approved National DNA Index System (NDIS) participating laboratory within this state for analysis and categorizing into genetic marker groupings and that the results are submitted to the Illinois State Police (55 ILCS 5/3-3013). 330.4 UNUSED MEDICATIONS If an officer collects any unused prescription medication at the scene of a death investigation, the officer shall (210 ILCS 150/18(g)): (a) Document the number or amount of medication to be disposed of. (b) If the medication is collected as evidence, photograph the unused medication and its container or packaging, if available, and include the photograph and documentation with the report. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/02/13, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Des Plaines Police Department Death Investigation - 3