5-5 APPROVAL AND DOCUMENTATION - NO INVESTIGATOR RESPONSE

HOMICIDE BUREAU

DETECTIVE DIVISION

BUREAU ORDERS

Bureau Order Number:  5-5

Subject:  APPROVAL AND DOCUMENTATION – NO INVESTIGATOR RESPONSE

I.   CONCEPT AND ISSUES

    A.  PURPOSE

The purpose of this order is to establish an approval process for non-response to certain death incidents.                        

    B.  BACKGROUND

The decision not to respond to a death incident requires the approval of the on-call team Lieutenant under certain circumstances.

    C.  SCOPE OF POLICY

This policy is directed to all Homicide Bureau personnel and any other personnel assigned to Homicide Bureau in a temporary or permanent capacity.

    D.  TRAINING

Homicide Bureau Sergeants and Lieutenants shall ensure that all personnel under their supervision have been appropriately briefed on the contents of this policy.                    

    E.  ACCOUNTABILITY

The Unit Commander.

    F.  CONCLUSION

The intent of this policy is to establish guidelines for non-response incidents.

II. POLICY

When the Homicide Bureau desk is notified of a death situation and no investigator response is contemplated, an on-duty, or on-call, Homicide Bureau Lieutenant shall be contacted and concur with any decision not to send an investigator to the scene.

The above will include early morning hours.  Bureau Lieutenants will be contacted by phone as necessary.

The fact that a Bureau Lieutenant has concurred and the Lieutenant’s name that has concurred with the desk decision not to send an investigator to the scene will be included in the narrative of the log entry.

An exception to the above will be in situations where the decedent apparently succumbs to natural causes and is 60 years of age or older.  In this type of situation the desk may dispense with contacting the on-duty or on-call Lieutenant.