16.7 Death Investigations

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This is Centreville Police Department Directive 16.7, "Death Investigations," issued and revised 10.1.2016 and approved by Chief Charles M. Rhodes, Jr. It requires the CPD to investigate every unattended death in its jurisdiction and states that every unattended death should be considered a homicide until proven otherwise. Procedures direct officers to respond expeditiously, take extensive digital photographs of the area, body and pertinent items, restrict the scene to essential personnel, maintain a crime scene log recording names, entry/exit times and reasons for entry, and request processing assistance from the MSP Forensic Sciences Division and, if needed, the MSP Homicide unit.

death investigations unattended death crime scene procedures digital photography crime scene log MSP Forensic Sciences Division MSP Homicide unit Centreville Police Department

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Centreville Police Department
Title: Death Investigations Directive #: 16.7
Issued: 10.1.2016 Revised: 10.1.2016
Approved by: Charles M. Rhodes, Jr.
Chief of Police
A. Policy
The CPD shall investigate every unattended death that occurs within the CPD jurisdiction as outlined in
this directive.
B. Procedures
1. General
a. When notified of an unattended death that has occurred, officers will respond expeditiously to
the location.
b. Every unattended should be considered a homicide until proven otherwise.
2. Scene
a. After arriving on the scene, the officer should immediately take digital photographs of the
area the body was found, the body and all other pertinent items. It is much better to take
more photos than needed, than not to have enough.
b. The scene should be restricted to essential personnel.
c. A crime scene log should be started immediately, documenting:
(1) names of persons entering the scene;
(2) time the person enters the scene;
(3) reason for entering the scene; and,
(4) time the person exits the scene.
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3. Other resources
a. The MSP Forensic Sciences Division should be requested to process the scene.
b. The MSP Homicide unit may be requested
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