Response to Sick or Injured Person Calls and Deaths

It is the policy of this department that patrol units will not be dispatched on “routine” 421 (sick or injured person) calls unless

• the responding medical service so requests. Routine calls include injuries from falls or accidents, general illness, heart attacks, and accidental overdoses

Patrol Units WILL be dispatched to 421 calls that:

1. Are suspicious in nature

2. Are related to unknown trouble calls

3. Involve injuries as a result of criminal activity or traffic accident

4. Are the result of a gunshot

5. Indicate a need for police involvement due to other circumstances

In medical emergencies, patients should only be transported by ambulance or other medical conveyances.

• escorting civilian vehicles under emergency circumstances is extremely dangerous and must be avoided. All emergency escorts will be conducted in accordance with LVMPD 4.116 Driving/Vehicle procedures

If the injured person is suffering from a potential life-threatening injury or substantial head trauma:

• an ICR (sick or injured person) will be completed in P1 and photographs will betaken to document details of the event

If officers arrive on a call where a resident, or person responsible for the structure, is transported and there is no other responsible party to care for the structure:

• the officer will secure the structure (by locking it up) or request dispatch to call the on-call company to secure it (if the officer is not able to secure it properly).

• The LVMPD Risk Management Section has an agreement with an on-call company that will respond to secure a structure. The property owner will be billed directly by the on-call company for the service.

Response to Homicides and Suspicious Deaths

Manners of death as defined by the Clark County Coroner’s Office:

1. Natural: any of the natural disease processes of the body

2. Accidental: any unforeseen or unexpected death

3. Homicide: the taking of one life by another or an interaction by two persons in which a death occurs

4. Suicide: death at one’s own hand

5. Undetermined: conflicting manners of death or a case in which a determination cannot be made

Response to Homicides or Suspicious Deaths

Patrol Officer WILL:

1. Upon arriving at the scene, determine the death to be suspicious or the result of a homicide, and:

   1. Secure the scene, obtain all contact information from witness(es), family member(s), person reporting (PR) and/or suspect(s)

   2. Request a Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) Section analyst to respond via radio/phone to Communications Bureau Dispatcher

   3. Notify the Homicide Section via Communications or by phone Monday through Friday during business hours. Any death calls during non-operational hours requiring a detective response will be made via Communications to the Homicide LT or designee.

   4. Maintain the security of the scene, witness(es), family member(s), person reporting, and/or suspect(s) until relieved by Homicide personnel.

   5. Complete the Major Incident Log (LVMPD 437)

   6. Separate the witnesses and have them complete voluntary statements (LVMPD 85)

• Patrol officers will not begin the ICR on homicides or suspicious deaths unless directed by the detective.

Response to Homicides or Suspicious Deaths

Supervisor WILL:

1. Respond to the scene, confirm with the patrol officer that the death appears to be suspicious or the result of a homicide, and:

   1. Ensure the crime scene analyst(s) have been requested

   2. Ensure detectives from Homicide have been notified

If responding officer, supervisor, or detective believes

witness(es), family member(s), and/or person reporting would benefit from the assistance of a recognized volunteer program, a volunteer should be requested through communications

Response to Dead Bodies other than Homicides, In-Custody Deaths, Suspicious Deaths

Officer WILL:

1. Upon arriving at the scene, determine the death to be other than a homicide, an in-custody death, or suspicious circumstances, and:

A. Secure the scene, gather witness(es) and related information

B. Gather information related to the PR, witness(es), and/or immediate family

C. Notify the coroner’s office via Communications

D. For deaths that appear to be natural and/or deaths to which CSI personnel do not respond, photograph the scene to ensure proper documentation:

• Detailed photos will be taken with a department-issued cellphone and uploaded into the Axon Capture App (see LVMPD 10.300 Department-Issued Cellphones for the proper usage of department-issued phones)

• Photos will be taken of the outside of structure(s), capturing address(es), the inside of the structure(s) and body.

• If the body is located outside, photos should be taken capturing a 360 degree view of the scene, address(es), and the body.

E. Request CSI on all suicides, overdoes, and other deaths that are considered “not natural”

F. Maintain presence at the scene until no longer needed by the coroner investigator.

G. Complete the Dead Body Incident Report in P1 by the end of shift. Do not provide details of the death in the narrative tab

• all categories (synopsis, investigation, scene, body, and evidence at scene) must be filled out in the “others” tab

***DEAD BODY ICR WILL NOT BE USED TO DOCUMENT A HOMICIDE***

Response to Dead Bodies other than Homicides, In-Custody Deaths, Suspicious Deaths

Supervisor WILL:

1. Respond to the scene (unless death appears to be natural), confirm with the patrol officer the death is not suspicious or the result of a homicide:

A. Ensure crime scene analysts have been requested on all suicides, overdoses, and other deaths that are considered “not natural.”

B. Ensure the coroner investigator has been requested and that the body is not disturbed

• for deaths that appear to be natural, see Officer, 1c (notifying coroner via comms)

C. Ensure the dead body report is completed and detailed on all death events, as this may be the only documentation of the death.

D. Ensure the officer took detailed photos to adequately document the scene and that they were properly uploaded into Axon Capture App

• LVMPD will assist the coroner investigator as requested with their investigation.

Death of a person of media interest:

• The homicide LT or designee will be contacted regarding any death of a person of media interest or LVMPD employee or family member of an LVMPD employee to determine Homicide Section response.

Personal Property of a Decedent

• coroner investigator or public administrator will impound

  • WON’T be impounded by LVMPD!

Firearms at the Scene of a Dead Body Call

• only firearm used in the incident (suicide, accidental shooting, etc.) will be impounded as evidence by a CSA

• Patrol officers may impound firearms for safekeeping only when a threat to life or safety exists-notating the justification when doing so-and the public administrator is not available

• The public administrator may secure tangible assets of the estate, including firearms (see NRS 253.0405).

• The coroner investigator will not collect any firearms

Decedent’s vehicle

• LVMPD will have it towed if it’s a hazard on the roadway

Securing Structures on a Dead Body Call

• a patrol officers may may stay until structure is secured if coroner request board up

• If LVMPD damages the structure, officers will contact the on-call company via communications and will remain on scene until the property is secured

Response to Deceased Children

Abuse/Neglect is the primary investigator for child deaths. Homicide will typically take lead if there was an act of concealment or body disposal after death. ORT may assist abuse/neglect on suspected child (teenager) overdoses (see 6.270 Overdose Investigations).

• FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY, CHILD MEANS: A PERSON WHO IS 17 OR YOUNGER

Abuse/Neglect will respond to child deaths in the following cases:

1. Death of a fetus (24-week gestational age) when physical abuse to the mother has occurred or when the mother intentionally ingested narcotics with the intent to terminate the pregnancy

2. Death of an infant/child with substantial injuries

3. Drowning (all types)

4. Head trauma and fractures (all types)

5. Recent burns on a child

6. When a child dies from being left in a vehicle

7. Firearm-related incidents where a child dies due to negligence (not including incidents related to gang violence, which will be handled by Gangs Section)

8. When a child dies form ingesting a drug (e.g. fentanyl, meth, prescription meds, etc.) CPS will also be notified

• Special Victims LT or designee will confer with homicide LT or designee when a child’s death involves an act of concealment or body disposal after death.

A PATROL OFFICER AND PATROL SUPERVISOR WILL BE DISPATCHED ON ALL EVENTS RELATED TO THE DEATH OF A CHILD

Response to Deceased Children

Patrol Officer WILL: (upon arriving at the scene)

A. Secure the scene, obtain all contact information from witness(es), family member(s), person reporting, and/or suspect

B. Request a CSA to respond via radio/phone to dispatcher

C. Notify the Abuse/Neglect Detail via Communications or by phone Mon-Fri during business hours. Any death calls during non-operational hours requiring a detective response will be via Communications to the Abuse/Neglect on-call detective

D. Maintain the security of the scene, witness(es), family member(s), person reporting, and/or suspect(s) until relieved by Homicide and/or Abuse/Neglect personnel

E. Notify CPS of the child deaths, the preliminary details of the case, and obtain all related CPS history

F. Identify any siblings of the victim, their current location and who they are with. Include this information in any detective briefing

Response to Deceased Children

Patrol Officer WILL: (upon arrival, when there is a deceased child at the hospital):

A. Secure the scene (including the residence or location where the incident started), obtain contact information for witness(es), family member(s), person reporting and/or suspect(s)

B. If requested, allow parents/guardians to leave the residence or location and go to the hospital where their child was taken unless there are clear signs of physical abuse. Any family member requesting to leave and go to the hospital should be identified first. Patrol will contact the responding Abuse/Neglect detective or sergeant if they have questions or concerns.

C. If the coroner’s office is responding to the hospital, keep the family separate from the child. The coroner investigator and Abuse/Neglect detective will coordinate any visits and transfer of keepsakes. If here are issues with the hospital staff and/or family, contact the responding detective or sergeant to advise of circumstances.

D. In clear cases of abuse, ensure that all parties remain at their initial location of contact. Responding detectives will be briefed as to the location of relevant parties. Consent and cooperation are critical to child deaths investigations. Professionalism must always be maintained when dealing with the family of a deceased child.

E. Request a CSA to respond via radio/phone to dispatcher.

F. Notify Abuse/Neglect bucket or on-call detective/sgt. Via communications or by phone Mon-Fri during business hours. Any death calls during non-operational hours requiring a detective responds will be via communications to Abuse/Neglect on-call detective.

G. Maintain the security of the scene, witness(es), family member(s), person reporting, and/or suspect(s) until relieved by Abuse/Neglect detectives. In cases where the child victim has been transported to a hospital, the initial detective briefing will occur at the hospital.

H. If CPS has not been notified yet, advise them of the child death, the preliminary details of the case, and obtain all related CPS history.

I. Identify any siblings of the victim, their current location, and whom they are with. Include this information in any detective briefing.

Response to Deceased Children

Supervisor WILL:

1. Respond to the scene:

A. Ensure CSA has been requested

B. Verify that Abuse/Neglect has been requested.

C. Ensure that CPS has been notified

In-Custody Deaths:

FIT LT or designee will be notified of all in-custody death involving police/corrections officer or an inmate at CCDC, North Valley, ,Tucker Holding Facility, or Medical Facility

• An in-custody death is defined as a death of a person:

  • Who is under arrest

  • Who is an inmate housed at CCDC, NVC, or medical facility

  • Who has been contacted or detained by officers and during the contact when the death occurs (i,e vehicle or pedestrian stop, a person commits suicide when officers are near or have the person contained).