4-19/010.00 - Person Dead

4-19/010.00
PERSON DEAD

For line procedures, see Volume 5, chapter 9.

All person dead reports (homicide, suicide, accidental, and natural) shall list the person dead as “V” for victim on the incident report.

The first report shall be faxed to Homicide Bureau at 323-727-2033.  A copy shall be mailed to the Coroner's office at 1104 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA. 90033, Attn:  Medical Clerical.

A copy of the report shall be sent to SVB if the deceased is a child under 10 years of age.

In homicide cases only, the distribution of confidential homicide reports shall be made by Homicide Bureau.  All copies, except one for the station/unit file, shall be forwarded directly to Homicide Bureau.

Any personnel designated to make notification of a death to next-of-kin or other relative shall do so in person.  Such notification shall be accomplished in a compassionate and understanding manner.  The person notified will be advised that any additional information regarding the death may be obtained by contacting Homicide Bureau or the requesting agency.  When a member of this Department asks a member of another department or agency to make a death notification, request that the notification be handled as described above.

After notification has been made, Homicide Bureau or the requesting agency shall be advised of the name, address, and phone number of the person notified and the time, date, and location of said notification, as well as the name, rank, and agency of the person making notification.  In the event that notification cannot be accomplished, advise Homicide Bureau or the requesting agency and follow their instructions.

Select the applicable code from the following:

Homicide, Murder - 011,
Person Dead - 491-499,
Traffic Accidents - 470.

Coroner's case  (no doctor in attendance within 60 days)

SH-R-49
URN
49

Homicide
Bureau

A

Notify Homicide Bureau immediately and obtain designation or authorization of mortuary and a Coroner's case number.  Copy of report to mortuary as soon as possible.

Code 491 - Person Dead, Natural Causes.

Coroner's case (doctor in attendance
within 21 to 60 days)

SH-R-49
URN
49

Homicide
Bureau

A

Obtain physician's name, phone number, and date he or she last saw the deceased from next-of-kin and notify Homicide Bureau.  Coroner's case number to be obtained later by Homicide Bureau.

Code 491 - Person Dead, Natural Causes.

(No Coroner's case number initially)

Non-Coroner's case (doctor in attendance
within 1 to 20 days and will sign death certificate)

Log entry only.

As a result of an aircraft accident

SH-R-49
URN
49

Aero Bureau

A

Notify Aero Bureau immediately and follow their instructions.  (See Aircraft - Scene of Accident.)

As a result of a disaster, boat or train accident, industrial accident or under suspicious circumstances

SH-R-49
URN
49

Homicide
Bureau

A

See Disasters and EOP Manual.

Notify Homicide Bureau immediately and follow their instructions.  Copy of report to be delivered to mortuary as soon as possible.

If death resulted from an industrial accident, immediately notify the nearest division office of CAL-OSHA by telephone.

If death occurred as a result of a boating accident, see section 4-05/030.00, Boats - Accident/Incident - Death or Disappearance of a Person as a Result Of.

As a result of a fire

SH-R-49
URN
49

Homicide
Bureau and
Arson/Explosives Detail

A

Notify Homicide Bureau and Arson/Explosives Detail immediately and follow their instructions.  Copy of report to be delivered to mortuary as soon as possible.  Code as applicable.

Mechanical amusement ride involved

SH-R-49
URN
49

Homicide
Bureau

A

Notify Homicide Bureau immediately and follow their instructions.  Also make immediate telephone notification to County engineer-facilities, superintendent of Building and Safety Division. Copies of the report to go to the aforementioned; the nearest division office of CAL-OSHA; and to the mortuary.

As result of shots fired at Deputy - Deputy killed, crime involved

See Shots Fired at Deputy.

As result of shots fired by Deputy

See Shots Fired by Deputies.

Child Abuse

See Homicide.

Murder

See Homicide.

Prisoner

SH-R-49
76C622
URN
49

Homicide
Bureau

A

The watch commander of the unit having the prisoner in custody at the time of death shall be responsible for making an immediate telephone notification to the Homicide Bureau.

If prisoner was booked prior to the time of death, the unit watch commander shall also make a telephone notification to the watch commander of the appropriate Inmate Reception Center.

In the event of a prisoner death in a jail, station, court lockup, or while en route to any of the above, a representative from Correctional Health Services (CHS) personnel shall be notified via the Medical Command Center (MCC) at (213) 893-5543/5544.  This notification is not intended to cause an immediate response to the location by CHS.   Pursuant to California State Code of Regulations (formerly Administrative Code), CHS shall conduct a preliminary review of the prisoner’s physical and mental health, before and after access to the autopsy report, and other documents

NOTE:  The review conducted by CHS will take place following completion of the homicide investigation.  Findings of the medical review shall be reported in a memorandum by CHS.  A copy of the memorandum shall be sent to the concerned assistant sheriff(s) and concerned division chief.

Property on the body shall be itemized on the Coroner's Receipt form (76C622) by the responding deputy coroner.  The case URN shall be added to the blue copy of the Coroner's Receipt and shall be retained with the original report.  Other property of the deceased at the unit which can be given to the deputy coroner at the time they pick up the body shall be handled in the same manner as the property on the body.

If prisoner died as a result of a gunshot by deputy, see under Shots Fired by Deputies for additional instructions, case assignment, priority, and coding.

Code 499 - Person Dead, Inmate.

Scuba diving

SH-R-49
URN
49

Emergency
Services Detail

A

Notify Homicide Bureau and Emergency Services Detail immediately and follow their instructions.  Supplemental reports of this type of case are confidential.  Homicide Bureau to respond when foul play is indicated.

Code 494 - Person Dead, Recreational Accident.

Suicide

See Suicide.

Suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

See Poisoning.

Traffic collision

See Collisions, Traffic.