NCJ Number
233407
Date Published
May 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
As presented on the Web site of the International Association of Chief's of Police (IACP) as of May 31, 2006, the IACP Policy Center presents its model agency policy for line-of-duty deaths.
Abstract
The policy is designed to prepare a law enforcement agency for the event of an active-duty officer's death in the line of duty and guide the agency in providing support for the deceased officer's family. The latter involves liaison assistance that ensures tangible and emotional support for the deceased officer's immediate survivors during the traumatic period of readjustment. The section on definitions defines a "line-of-duty death" as "the death of an active duty officer by felonious or accidental means during the course of performing police functions while on-duty or off-duty." "Survivors" are defined as immediate family members of the deceased officer to include spouse, children, parents, siblings fiancee, and/or significant others. The section on "Procedures" provides guidance for death notification; assisting survivors at the hospital; appointment of agency coordination personnel; the responsibilities of the department liaison between the family and the law enforcement agency; the responsibilities of the funeral liaison officer; and the responsibilities of benefits coordinator and the family support advocate. A statement by the IACP Policy Center with reference to this model policy is that every effort has been made to ensure that the model policy incorporates the most current information and contemporary professional judgment on this issue.