PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTIVE 8.5
Issued Date: 12-07-09 Effective Date: 12-07-09 Updated Date: 11-26-13
SUBJECT: DEPARTMENTAL DEATHS
1. POLICY
A. Deceased department personnel, active or pensioned/retired, will be provided with the appropriate departmental honors. The next of kin will be informed, and upon request will be advised of Departmental services available to them.
B. Police Department policy does not permit for provision of escorts, pallbearers, firing squad or bugler for personnel who have died as a result of their own criminal acts.
C. Whenever an officer on active duty dies, the Departmental Death Review Board will be convened upon the direction of the Police Commissioner to discuss circumstances surrounding the death and to provide the Police Commissioner with their recommendations on whether the death was duty related.
1. The Departmental Death Review Board will consist of:
*1/*2 a Deputy Commissioner, Field Operations, Chairperson b. Deputy Commissioner, Organizational Services c. Deputy Commissioner, Organizational Services, Strategy and Innovations d. Deputy Commissioner of the affected District and/or Unit. e. President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5.
2. RESPONSIBILITIES
A. DUTY RELATED DEATHS
Duty Related Deaths – dies or is killed as a result of taking direct police action.
*3 1. If the Departmental Death Review Board recommends to the Commissioner that the death was duty related and the decision is approved by the Commissioner, The Commissioner shall notify the officer’s Commanding Officer.
2. The Commanding Officer, or in his/her absence, an officer of command rank, upon notification of the death of a police officer under his/her command will:
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a. If verifications are necessary, contact Commanding Officer, Police Radio.
b. Notify Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services Bureau.
c. Submit a memorandum to Police Personnel, Human Resources Manager containing:
1) Name, rank, and badge number.
2) Date and cause of death.
3) Martial status and number of dependents (names and ages).
d. At the time of the police officer’s death the Commanding Officer shall be responsible for contacting the Disability Benefits Coordinator at the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Police Personnel Pension Counselor; Police Personnel, Police Headquarters Room 308, (215-686-3370).
*1/*2/*3 3. The Benefits Coordinator will ensure that documents (federal, state and city monetary death benefits) are prepared and submitted for surviving families within thirty (30) days.
4. The Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services Bureau with the approval of the Police Commissioner, will:
a. Send a computer message notifying Commanders of time and place to assemble for viewing.
b. Send a computer message noting the time and place for Commanders to march with the caisson to the place of worship.
c. Send a message notifying Commanders of the time and place of the funeral and/or religious services.
d. Notify all personnel via computer message stating the proper protocol and procedure (Saluting, uniform, etc.) for all services and functions.
e. Contact Commanding Officer, Communications Division for final call (Radio tape).
f. Coordinate with Commanding Officer, Aviation Unit for a fly over.
g. Refer to guidelines set forth in Departmental Death duty manual.
h. Notify Pipes and Drums of date, time, and location of services.
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i. Notify Commanding Officer, Highway Patrol Unit who will provide motors to escort the body from hospital to morgue and from the morgue to funeral home.
j. Notify Honor Guard of date, time, and location of services.
k. Arrange for Horse Drawn Caisson. Arrange Caisson March to church or other location where services are to be held. Caisson March will be approximately 1.2 miles.
l. Arrange March of Command Staff and affected unit personnel to location of viewing (approximately two (2) blocks).
5. The Police Commissioner will request permission from the Mayor to fly the City flag and from the Governor to fly the State flag at half-mast.
6. The Commanding Officer, Research and Planning Unit at the direction of the Police Commissioner will:
a. Notify Commanding Officers of all districts/units to fly the city flags at half- mast from the day of death until after the funeral for all police officers killed in the performance of duty.
b. Prepare and transmit a computer message notifying all police personnel to wear mourning crepes on their badges for thirty days.
c. Notify a Police Radio Supervisor to inform all patrol vehicles on the day of the funeral to operate with headlights on from 8:00AM until after the funeral.
7. Following a duty related death, the Public Affairs Unit will:
a. After family notifications are made, send a Press Release regarding the details and identification of the officer and an official department photo will be released.
b. Coordinate with the Chief Inspector of the Training and Education Services Bureau regarding media alerts for the viewing, funeral service, funeral procession closers, and burial.
c. Arrange for media coverage of the funeral services by coordinating with officials from the funeral home and/or religious institution. This coordination should include the approval for the media to record the services. Should specialized viewing equipment be requested for outside the services, make arrangements for it to be obtained and operated.
d. Coordinate with the Mayor’s Press Office regarding notification of City Officials about the services and arrangements.
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e. Be present at the viewing, services, and burial to coordinate media coverage of the services.
8. Philadelphia Crime Information Center (PCIC) will:
a. Send the inter/intrastate computer message after conferring with the Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services Bureau.
9. Formation of Escort
a. Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services Bureau or his/her designee will be responsible for the formation or placement of all personnel during any processions, outside the funeral home, religious facilities and at the interment site.
10. Escort Responsibilities
a. The Highway Patrol Unit along with the Traffic District will have shared responsibilities in providing escort duties for the family of the deceased officer from the day of death to the day of interment.
NOTE: If burial is out of town, the Unit Commanding Officer and the Honor Guard will coordinate with the Fraternal Order of Police.
B. TRIBUTE VEHICLE
1. Graphic Arts Unit will:
a. Memorialize the police officer’s marked patrol vehicle. This Tribute Vehicle will be on display where appropriate at viewing and funeral ceremonies. The vehicle will be retired for 30 days from the date of death before returning to the fleet for service.
C. NON-DUTY RELATED DEATHS
Non-Duty Related Deaths – death whether on or off-duty, not precipitated by a direct police action.
1. The Commanding Officer, upon official notification of the death of an active police officer under his/her command, will:
a. Notify Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services Bureau.
b. Prepare a Memorandum 82-S-1 and submit one (1) copy to the Human Resources Manager at Police Personnel, Police Headquarters, Room 308 containing:
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1) Name, rank, badge number and payroll number.
2) Date and circumstances of death.
3) Date, time and place of viewing, religious services and place of interment.
c. Consult with the family to ascertain if color guard, honor guard escort, pallbearers, firing squad, and bugler are desired.
1) If police pallbearers are requested, they will be from the deceased's last district/unit of assignment.
d. Contact Chief Inspector, Homeland Security to make necessary arrangements for coverage by Traffic personnel for the viewing, services, and escort of the funeral cortege to the cemetery.
e. Contact Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services, who will notify the Honor Guard of the date, time and location of services.
f. The Commanding Officer/Department Head, upon official notification of the death of an active civilian department employee under his/her command, will promptly notified Police Personnel.
1. Prepare a Memorandum 82-S-1 and submit one (1) copy to the Human Resources Manager at Police Personnel, Police Headquarters Room 308 containing:
a. Name and Payroll number.
b. Date and circumstances of death.
c. Date, time and place of viewing, religious services and place of interment.
2. Consult with family to ascertain if an escort is desired.
2. FUNERAL ESCORTS (NON-DUTY RELATED DEATHS)
a. Ensure that an escort for officers up to and including the rank of Lieutenant will be:
One (1) Captain One (1) Lieutenant Two (2) Sergeants Ten (10) Police Officers
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b. If Captain and above, include one (1) Deputy Commissioner, one (1) Chief Inspector, one (1) Inspector and one (1) Staff Inspector
*2 c. If a Detective, ten (10) Detectives will replace the above ten (10) Police Officers and will be supplied by the appropriate Deputy Commissioner.
d. Formation of funeral escort will be at the discretion of the escort commander.
e. The uniformed Captain or designee in attendance will be the funeral escort commander, and upon appearance of the casket, will issue the command of "Present Arms" (Hand Salute). (Personnel in civilian dress will come to attention, uncover and hold hat or hand over left breast.) When the casket has been placed in the hearse, the escort Commander or designee will issue the command of "Order Arms.”
f. Represent the department at the interment.
1) The Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services Bureau, will act as consultant to the Commanding Officer of the deceased on all procedural matters pertaining to the funeral and will arrange firing squad and bugler if requested.
D. RETIRED/PENSIONED PERSONNEL
1. Chief Inspector, Homeland Security, will make necessary arrangements for coverage by Traffic personnel for the viewing, services, and escort of the funeral cortege to the cemetery upon request of the family.
2. Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services Bureau will upon request of the family of the deceased, arrange for pallbearers, firing squad and bugler.
a. Pallbearers will be supplied from last district/ unit of assignment if known.
3. Retired Police Commissioners or Mayors, the size of detail and honors will be determined by the Police Commissioner.
E. OTHER JURISDICTION - PERSONNEL KILLED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTY.
1. Upon receipt of an inter/intrastate computer message concerning a police officer killed in the line of duty, the Commanding Officer, Police Radio, will ensure prompt notification, via computer message, to the Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services Bureau.
2. Chief Inspector, Training and Education Services Bureau will:
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a. Check with the department concerned as to the circumstances of the death.
b. Arrange an escort consisting of:
One (1) Captain or Lieutenant One (1) Sergeant Six (6) Police Officers Honor Guard
c. The department escort will proceed to appointed location in marked vehicles.
d. Arrange for expense money and transportation for the personnel assigned to the escort detail.
NOTE: An escort will be supplied by the Philadelphia Police Department if the deceased officer was assigned to a department in the state of Pennsylvania or in any jurisdiction within the "corridor" area (New York City to Washington, D.C.).
F. DEATH OF A CIVILIAN MEMBER OR AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER OF ACTIVE PERSONNEL
1. When there is a death of a civilian member or an immediate family member of active personnel, their Commanding Officer will be the department representative and attend the viewing and send a computer message giving details of the services.
2. If there is no viewing, then the Commanding Officer will attend the funeral services.
3. Upon request, provide Traffic escort.
BY COMMAND OF THE POLICE COMMISSIONER
FOOTNOTE GENERAL # DATE SENT REMARKS *1 7384 9-14-12 Change *2 239 10-24-12 Addition *3 1598 11-26-13 Addition/Change
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