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B11 Officer Injury & Death Core Training Course. This course is dedicated to all the men and women behind the badge, who have made the ultimate sacrifice to society in their quest to maintaining civility, and to proudly fulfill their commitment to protect and serve.
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B11 Officer Injury & DeathCore Training Course This course is dedicated to all the men and women behind the badge, who have made the ultimate sacrifice to society in their quest to maintaining civility, and to proudly fulfill their commitment to protect and serve
Presented By:Executive Chaplain Todd Pynch Crisis Chaplaincy Services 387 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-763-8522 (Office) 503-932-1314 (Cell) tpynch@ccschaplain.com (email) www.ccschaplain.com (website)
COURSE OVERVIEW We will talk about the impact of officer injury or death incidents upon your chaplaincy. We will talk about how to respond to officer injury incidents. We will talk about how to respond to a line-of-duty death (LODD). We will talk about how to make LODD notifications.
COURSE OVERVIEW We will talk about the various kinds of law enforcement funerals. We will talk about the procedures of conducting law enforcement funerals. We will talk about how to help departments and your community deal with the loss of a coworker.
IS YOUR CHAPLAINCY READY? If one of your officers is injured or killed, one of two things will happen: You will have the opportunity to make a profound impact. OR… You will be left to observe on the sidelines while others do your work.
IS YOUR CHAPLAINCY READY? Is your chaplaincy ready to properly respond to an incident involving an injury or death to one of your officers? Have you done any planning for a LODD?
DEALING WITH OFFICER INJURIES Responding To The Scene: Make sure you have permission to be there. Offer words of encouragement & support. Be a supportivepresence, not a dominating force on scene. Coordinate the notification of the spouse & family with the supervisor.
DEALING WITH OFFICER INJURIES Making Notifications To The Spouse & Family: Gather accurate informationfrom involved officers. Ask questions if you don’t know the answers. Partner up with the supervisor or a member of the Command Staff. Check to see if the officer has a preference of who will make the notification.
DEALING WITH OFFICER INJURIES Making Notifications To The Spouse & Family: Try to respond to the residence as quickly as possible. Start with good news at the door and then move inside the house for the rest. Answer all questions as best as possible. Be prepared to transport family members to the hospital. Make sure parents & other family members are notified as well.
DEALING WITH OFFICER INJURIES Responding To The Hospital: Respond as quickly as possible. Notify the hospital chaplainand inform them of the situation. Have a ministry of presence. Look for needs you can meet and then do so.
DEALING WITH OFFICER INJURIES Responding To The Hospital: Don’t overstay your welcome. Offer to pray with the family if this seems appropriate. Make sure the officer and family has your contact information.
DEALING WITH LINE OF DUTY DEATHS Responding To The Scene: Take your go-bag with you! Extra cell phone battery. Cell phone chargers (AC & DC) Toiletries Extra clothing Medications Laptop Computer Appropriate phone lists
DEALING WITH LINE OF DUTY DEATHS Responding To The Scene: Before you ever get there, get some help enroute. Remember it is likely a crime sceneso don’t cross the tape unless requested to do so. Be prepared for your own emotional impact because it will hit you hard! Offer comfort & calm to affected officers on scene.
DEALING WITH LINE OF DUTY DEATHS Responding To The Scene: If possible, view the body so you can properly answer the families questions. Assist in coordinating processional escort of body to funeral home. Carry a flag in your vehicle and drape the body with it prior to procession. Gather all required information for making notification to the family.
DEALING WITH LINE OF DUTY DEATHS Responding To The Scene: Try to shut down all electronic communication until the family has been notified. Make sure the media is not releasing any identifying information prior to notification.
DEALING WITH LINE OF DUTY DEATHS Making The Notification: Make the notification as soon as humanly possible. The Chaplain should accompany the Commander/Chief/Sheriff. Decide in advance who is going to make the notification. Recommendation: don’t park directly in front of the residence.
DEALING WITH LINE OF DUTY DEATHS Making The Notification: If you are making the notification, make sure the Commanding Officer is prepared to offer condolences. Answer all questions as honestly as possible. Provide status of suspects if pertinent. Make sure immediate support is available to the family.
DEALING WITH LINE OF DUTY DEATHS Making The Notification: Provide contact information about who will be the family liaison. If appropriate, escort the family to the Funeral Home/Morgue. Be prepared to make multiple notifications to all appropriate family members. If you are not involved in the notification, contact the family as soon as possible.
TYPES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNERALS Active Members: Line of Duty Death Receives full honorsincluding casket watch, gun salute, flag presentation, taps, bag pipes, medals presentations, campaign hat presentation, retiring of badge, individual agency rituals Will likely have procession
TYPES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNERALS Active Members: Line of Duty Death Quite possibly will have internationalattendance Will have intense mediacoverage. Most likely will have involvement of governmentofficials.
TYPES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNERALS Active Members: Off Duty Tragic Death Typically receives partial honors including flag presentation, taps, bag pipes, possibly gun salute. May or may not have procession Most likely with have state-wideattendance
TYPES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNERALS Active Members: Natural Death Generally receives limited honors including possible flag presentation & taps Could have gun salute if there was prior military service Likely will not involve procession Attendance will likely be localagencies
TYPES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNERALS Active Members: Suicidal Death Level of honor will be decided by agencypolicy Very emotional services Hope needs to be offered in the midst of confusion Suicide issue can’t be ignored
TYPES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNERALS Retired Members: Tragic or Accidental Death Natural Death Suicidal Death Retired members services generally have limited honors but that will be decided by departmental policy.
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS Deputy Kelly Fredinburg Marion County Sheriff’s Office EOW: June 16, 2007
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS Deputy Kelly Fredinburg Marion County Sheriff’s Office
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS Captain Tom Tennant Woodburn Police Department EOW: December 12, 2008
Captain Tom Tennant Woodburn PD LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS Senior Trooper Bill Hakim Oregon State Police EOW: December 12, 2008
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS Senior Trooper Bill Hakim Oregon State Police
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS Procession for Captain Tom Tennant Service
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS Honor Guard at Senior Trooper Bill Hakim’s Service
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: Key Players: Incident Commander or Funeral Operations Coordinator Chaplain or Minister & Chaplain’s Assistant Funeral Home Director Family Liaison Officer Procession Coordinator Honor GuardCoordinator
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: Key Players: FacilityCoordinator FinanceCoordinator BenefitsCoordinator This is not a complete list
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: Meeting With The Family: You will want to explain the elements of a police funeral to them. You need to find out if this is what they want. The family’s wishes takes precedence over all other desires. If the family does not want an honors service, are they open to the department having one?
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: Meeting With The Family: Approximately how many family members will attend the service? Are there any special needsfor family members? Does the family want the chaplain to officiate or someone else? Does the family want the body to be present?
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: Meeting With The Family: If the body is cremated, would the family like/want a casket anyway in the front? Does the family want there to be a sharingtime in the service? If so, who would the family want to share? Does the family want any kind of video presentation?
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: Meeting With The Family: Discuss dignitary presence such as Governor, Judges etc. Are the dignitaries permitted to speak during the service? Is the family open to meeting with the Governor & others before the service?
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: Meeting With The Family: Is the media allowed to be present in the service? Will the burial be public or private? Would the family like some kind of reception after the service?
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: Planning For The Service: I highly encourage you to use an Incident Command Structure. You will need all the help you can get! I highly encourage you to stay involved in overall planning decisions. Make sure the family’s wishes are represented & honored throughout the planning process.
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: Planning For The Service: Try to pick a date for the service that allows for out-of-state travel. Pick a location that is large enough to handle the crowd. Prepare yourself for exhaustion. Find quiet time for you to gather your thoughts in preparation for the service.
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: The Service Itself, Recommendations For The Chaplain: In the procession I encourage you to consider riding in the funeral coach. Don’t be afraid to show emotions as long as you can still guide the service. Have a staging roomfor the family that is private & comfortable.
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: The Service Itself – Recommendations For The Chaplain: Have a clearly defined order of service & then follow it! (see example in resource section) Trust that God will speak through you as you have prepared. Offer comfort, hope, understanding & peace to your audience.
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: The Service Itself – Recommendations For The Chaplain: I recommend you have a fellow Chaplain sit with you. Follow the directions of the Honor Guard Commander. Know how to salute before you’re up in front of everyone! Go purchase your dress uniform now so you’re prepared.
LINE OF DUTY FUNERALS: After The Service, Caring For Yourself: Prepare for a huge emotional letdown & adrenaline dump to occur. Process through your own grief that you’ve put on hold. Take time for your own needs. Reconnect with your family. Consider talking to a counselor or close friend.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Viewings: Will there be viewings for the family? Will there be viewings for the officersof the agency? Will there be viewings for outsideagency personnel? Will there be viewings for thepublic?
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Processions: Will there be a procession priorto the service? Will there be a procession to the cemetery? If either above is yes, what will the routebe? Where will you stageall the vehicles?
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Committal Service: Wherewill it be? Whowill attend? Is it prioror postservice?
CARING FOR YOUR OFFICERS During The Incident: You are not Superman – accept that you will need help and get it. Defusings Family Support – don’t forget the families! Shift Briefings Have someone in the PD as much as possible
CARING FOR YOUR OFFICERS During The Incident: Don’t forget about your dispatchers and office staff. There is an absolute need for a ministry of presence!