Purpose:
The purpose of this general order is to establish procedures that will ensure the proper support and emotional care for an officers family following a line-of-duty death.
Policy:
It is the policy of the Saint Paul Police Department to provide liaison assistance to the immediate survivors of any member who dies in the line-of-duty. This assistance will be when a line-of-duty death occurs while the officer was performing a police-related function, either on or off duty, and while the officer was an active member of the department. The chief of police may institute certain parts of this order for cases of an officers natural death. The department will also provide a clarification and comprehensive study of survivor benefits as well as other tangible and intangible emotional support during this traumatic period of readjustment for the surviving family. Funeral arrangements of the deceased officer are to be decided by the family, with their wishes taking precedence over the department.
Discussion:
Coordination of events following the line-of-duty death of a police officer is an extremely important and complex responsibility. Professionalism and compassion must be exhibited at all times as an obligation to the officers survivors and to the law enforcement community. In order to provide the best possible services and support for the officers family, specific tasks may be assigned to selected members of the department. Their titles are:
- Notification officer
- Hospital liaison officer
- Family liaison officer
- Department liaison officer
- Benefits coordinator
An explanation of each of these responsibilities is contained in the Line-of-Duty Death, Policy and Protocol Manual. An officer may be called upon to perform more than one role.
Revised July 1, 2011