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Death Scene’s Death Scene’s Policy, On Scene, Checklists, and Report’s Policy Policy 323.2.3 Death Cases Death investigations require specific investigation methods depending on circumstances and should be handled in accordance with Police 360 Death Investigations. The handling officer should notify and apprise a supervisor of the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine how to proceed. The following cases shall be appropriately investigated and documented using the approved report: a. Sudden or accidental deaths b. Suicides c. Homicide or suspect homicide d. Unattended deaths (No physician or qualified hospice care in the 20 days preceding death) e. Found dead bodies or body parts Policy 10-54, 10-55, 10-56, and a code blue warrant a code 3 response 308.2 Response to calls: -Officer dispatched "Code-3" shall consider the call an emergency response and proceed immediately. Officers responding Code-3 shall continuously operate emergency lighting equipment, including at minimum a steady forward facing red light, and shall sound the siren as reasonably necessary pursuant to Vehicle Code 21055. -Responding with emergency light(s) and siren does not relieve the officer of the duty to continue to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons. The use of any other warning equipment without a red light and siren does not provide any exemption from the Vehicle Code. -Officers should only respond Code-3 when so dispatched or when circumstances reasoably indicate an emergency response is required. Officers not authorized to respond Code-3 shall observe all traffic laws and proceed without the use of emergency lights and siren. Policy 308.4 Initiating Code 3 Response If an officer believes a Code-3 response to any call is appropriate, the officer shall immediately notify the Dispatch Center. Any additional officers who believe a Code-3 response is appropriate, shall notify the Dispatch Center. The Shift Supervisor or field supervisor will make a determination as to whether one or more officers driving Code-3 is appropriate. 308.5 Responsibilities of Responding Officers Officers shall exercise sound judgment and care with due regard for life and property when responding to an emergency call. Officers shall reduce speed at all street interscetions to such a degree that they shall have complete control of the vehicle. The decision to continue a Code-3 response is at the discretion of the officer. If, in the officer's judgement, the roadway conditions or traffic congestion does not permit such a response without unreasonable risk, the officer may elect to respond to the call without the use of red lights and siren at the legal speed limit. In such an event, the officer should immediately notify the Dispatch Center. An officer shall also discontinue to the Code-3 response when directed by a supervisor. Upon receiving authorization or determining a Code-3 response is appropriate, an officer shall immediately give the location from which he/she is responding. Policy Policy 330 Death Investigation 330.1 Purpose and scope The investigations of cases involving death include those ranging from natural causes 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 investigation cases require certain actions be taken. Paramedics shall be called in all suspected death cases unless the death is obvious (decapitated, decomposed, etc.). The Department will provide public safety officers with a Death Scene Checklist to assist them with the proper course of action. A supervisor shall be notified in all death investigations. Policy 330.2.1 Coroner Request Government Code 27491 and Health & Safety Code 102850 direct the Coroner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner and cause of certain deaths. The Coroner shall be called in any of the following cases: a. Unattended deaths (No physician in attendance or during the continued absence of the attending physician. Also, includes all deaths outside hospitals and nursing care facilities). b. Deaths where the deceased has not been attended by either a physician or a registered nurse, who is amember of a hospice care interdisciplinary team, as defined by Health and Safety Code 1746 in the 20 days prior to death. c. Physician unable to state the cause of death. Unwillingness does not apply. Includes all sudden, unexpected and unusual deaths and fetal deaths when the underlying cause is unknown. d. Known or suspected homicide e. Known or suspected suicide. f. Involving any criminal action or suspicion of a criminal act. Includes child and dependent adult negligence and above. g. Related to or following known or suspected self-induced or criminal abortion. h. Associated with a known or alleged rape or crime against nature. i. Following an accident or injury (primary or contributory). Deaths known or suspected as resulting (whole or in part) from or related to accident or injury, either old or recent. Policy 330.2.1. Coroner Request Continued j. Drowning, fire, hanging, gunshot, stabbing, cutting, starvation, exposure, alcoholism, drug addiction, strangulation or aspiration. k. Accidental poisoning (food, chemical, drug, theraputic agents.) l. Occupational diseases or occupational hazards m. Known or suspected contagious disease and contituting a public hazard. n. All deaths in operation rooms and all deaths where a patient has not fully recovered from an anesthetic, whether in surgery, recovery room or elsewhere. o. In prison or while under sentence, includes all in-custody and police involved deaths. p. All deaths of unidentified persons. q. All deaths of state hospital patients r. Suspected Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) deaths. s. All deaths where the patient is comatose thorugout the period of the physician's attendance. Includes patients admitted to hospitals unresponsive and expire without regaining consciousness. The body shall not be distrubed or moved from the position or place of death without permission of the coroner. Policy 330.2.2 Searching Dead Bodies The coroner or Deputy Coroner is generally the only person permitted to search a body known to be dead from any of the circumstances set forth in Government code 27491. The only exception is than an officer is permitted to search the body of a person killed ina traffic collision for the limited purpose of locating an anatomical donor card (Government Code 27491.3). If such a donor card is located, the Coroner or a designee 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 Coroner or a designee; the investigating officer shall first obtain verbal consent from the Coroner or a designee (Government Code 27491.2) Whenever possible, a witness, preferably a realtive 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 Coroner or a designee. The name and addres 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 Coroner or a designee a receipt shall be obtained. This receipt shall be attached to the death report. Policy 330.2.3 Death Notification When practical, and if not handles by the Coroner's Office, notification to the next-of-him of the deceased person shall be made, in person, by the officer assigned to the incident. If the relatives live outside this county, the Coroner may be requested to make the notification. The Coroner needs to know if notification has been made. Assigned detectives may need to talk to the next-of-kin. 330.2.4 Unidentified Dead Bodies If the identity of a dead body cannot be established after the Coroner arrives, the Coroner's office will issue a "John Doe" or "Jane Doe" number for the report. 330.2.5 Death Investigation Reporting All incidents involving a death shall be documented on the appropriate form 330.2.6 Suspected Homicide If the initially assisgned officer suspects that the death involves a homicide or other suspious circumstances, the investigations Division shall be notified to determine the possible need for a detective to respond to the scene for further imemdiate investigation. 330.2.7 Employment Related Deaths or Injuries Any member of this agency who responds to and determines that a death, serious illness, or serious injury has occured as a result of an accident at or in connection with the victim's employment shall ensure that the nearest office of Cal-OSHA is notified by telephone immediately or as soon as practiable with all pertient informaiton (8CCR342(b)) On Scene 10-54 (possible dead body) Check for obvious signs of death Decapitation Incineration Rigor Mortis (Stiffening of the joints and muscles of a body a few hours after death, usually lasting from one to four days) Lividity (reddish -to bluish purple discoloration of the skin due to the settling and pooling of blood following death) Decomposition Pulseless blunt traumatic arrest- ADULT only Total separation of vital organs from body, or total destruction of organs with absense of life signs Absense of life signs or severely compromised vital signs when there are multipe victims, and resuscitation would hinder care of more viable patients. Submersion greater than or equal to one hour: physical examination of body with accurate and reliable history of submerision time. 10 54 cont. If there are no obvious signs of death check if they have a pulse, if the subject does not have a pulse and is not breathing start chest compressions. Continue to assist with life saving measures until the medics call 10-55. Advise our dispatch the subject is 10-55 and start your investigation 10 -55 (Dead body) Obvious signs of death Fire or EMS has called 10-55 prior to your arrival DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) 10-56 (Suicide) Intentional poisoning or drug overdose Hanging Suffocation Gun Shot Cutting or stabbing Carbon monoxide Jumping Drowning Transportion Electrocution Fire Checklist Death Report Death Report Date and time Dispatch notes Response to call (code 2 or code 3) Condition of residence Obvious signs of death, CPR, called 10-55 Identification of the body and how you identified Where the body was found Condition of body/ apparent wounds Condition of surrounding areas (Paraphernalia, Weapons, etc) Death Report cont. Notifications (supervisor or investigations) Other individual on scene, who found the body Witness statements Health problems Medications Evidence of food and dated material Drug or alcohol use EMS unit, members and certification number Coroner notification and case number Death report cont. Photos: Residence Body (Birdseye to close ups) Medications Paraphernalia, weapons, drugs, alcohol, etc Broken windows, doors, and locks Body bag tag Vehicle Anything else that is pertient to the investigation