Lessons Learned&

Being PreparedDes Moines Police Department

West Des Moines Police DepartmentRockwell City Police DepartmentDivision of Criminal Investigation

Webster County SERT

In Honor of our Fallen

Des Moines Police Officer Carlos Puente-MoralesDes Moines Police Officer Susan Farrell

West Des Moines Police Sgt. Shawn MillerDes Moines Police Sgt. Tony Beminio

Rockwell City Police Officer Jamie BuentingUrbandale Police Officer – Justin Martin

To provide information learned from our tragedies

To prepare others for something we hope they will never experience

Presented By

ResourcesMetro and Rural

• Iowa C.O.P.S. & National C.O.P.S. (iowaCOPS.org) • Bureau of Land Management Firefighter and Law

Enforcement Line of Duty Deathwww.nifc.gov/training/LODD/BLM_LODD.pdf

• Iowa Line of Duty Death Response Guide• International Critical Incident Stress Foundation

(www.icisf.org)• Officer Down Memorial Page (www.odmp.org)• Emergency Management (IMT)

ResourcesAgencies providing this presentation today

• Des Moines Police 515-283-4800

• West Des Moines Police515-222-3321

• Rockwell City Police712-297-7583

• Webster County Sheriff’s Office515-573-1410

• Department of Criminal Investigations

515-725-6010

Resources Rural

• Iowa Department of Public Safety • Contact:

• Your local DCI Special Agent or Zone SAC • Any Trooper or Lieutenant in your ISP Post• Any State Radio Dispatch location

Lessons Learned and Being Prepared

• Three Phases of LODD

1. Response/Notifications 2. Planning3. Benefits

Response

What type of incident?• Accident• Homicide• Other

Is this incident ongoing?

ResponseNotifications (be ahead of Media and Social Media)

• Family• Immediate• Extended• Fiancé / Significant other• Military

• Department• On duty Sworn & Civilian• Off duty Sworn & Civilian

• Media

• Resources• Iowa COPS• Peer Support *• Neighboring Agencies• EAP• Red Cross• Dept. Psychologist *• Emergency Management• Chaplains

ResponseMaking Family Notifications

Family RuralChief /Sheriff/ Director Chief/Sheriff/Director/Supervisor Department Liaison to family Chaplain Chaplain Homicide Victim Advocate Peer Support (Family Liaison)IOWA COPS IOWA COPSAssisting Agency Assisting Agency

*May ask family to identify other family/friend Law Enforcement should notify*Family liaison should stay with family after notification*Assign post outside of family’s house (COPS)

ResponseMaking Notifications

Extended family – Identified by immediate family• Family or Law Enforcement

Chief/Sheriff/Director/Executive StaffClose friend on the departmentPeer Support

• Assistance from agency where family lives• Department Liaison to family• May need assistance from Homicide Victim Services

ResponseMaking Notifications

Fiancé / Significant OtherChief/Sheriff/Director/Executive StaffFamiliar OfficerPeer SupportAssistance from agency where Companion lives

Military Will need to contact the Red CrossThey will aid in the location of military membersRecommend finding local representative to facilitate this process

ResponseNotifications

Briefing On Duty Personnel – Chief, Sheriff, DirectorBasic facts of incidentGrief resourcesUpdate schedulePlanning scheduleWhat can employees do?Assess employees ability to workEmployees Do not post information on Social Media

*Prepare statement by Chief/Sheriff for department email

Lesson Learned

• We were not prepared to locate family• Have your employees complete emergency contact form annually• IF possible, have them identify who should be contacted by LE

• Pre-incident Planning• Military/Red Cross – How to confirm notification?

• Recommend finding local representative to facilitate this process

ResponseNotifications

Off Duty Personnel – Logistics Coordinator• Notify Section Commanders

• Call through phone tree• Message or have call in

• Provide information on briefings • Identify grief resources• Provide schedule for updates if ongoing investigation• Identify what employees can do• Location of Officer (Hospital)

ResponseNotifications

• Resources• Iowa COPS• Peer Support *• Neighboring Agencies• EAP• Red Cross• Dept. Psychologist *• Emergency Management• Chaplains

• Media• Press Release• Scheduled Press Conference• Social Networking Message

• Other (City, County, State Officials)

• Manager• Elected Officials• Human Resources• Governor's Office

ResponseIdentify Critical Roles and Responsibilities

Logistic Coordinator

Incoming Manager/Recorder

Liaisons

Example of Operations Chart

Organizational Chart – SGT Miller LODDSENIOR COMMAND STAFF

[Executive Officer]

Operations BranchIncident Command

IOWA CHIEFSIOWA C.O.P.S.

Transportation / Logistics

Spt Svc’s Div.

Honor Guard

Planning BranchPatrol Div. Cmdr

Dept. Personnel / Family SupportSpt. Svc’s Div.

Recorder / ScribeChief’s Admin Assist.

Visitation

Funeral Traffic & Parking

Movement to

Internment

Patrol Coverage of City

Funeral & ceremonies

Funeral & ceremonies

Vigil – house & funeral home

Family support

Benefits coord.

Static memorial

Counseling coord.

PD Dependents

mobilization

Family support

Vehicle ID & assignment

Movement to Church

Family Liaison Officers

Dept. Chaplains

Logistics Coordinator

• Main source of information to Executive Staff and Liaisons• Facilitates planning

• Movement of Fallen Officer• Funeral Home• Visitation • Funeral• Internment• grief management• Must have a clear understanding of resources• Authority to trouble shoot

Incoming Manager / Record Keeper

Incoming items to department (food, gifts, cards, etc.)Business offers to department/familyDonationsNames, address, phone for Thank You cardCollect Newspaper Articles, Photos, Video,

Family Liaison• Characteristics

• Logistical Contact between the family and agency and affective agency• May know fallen, but should not be close friend/family member• Understand and respect privacy of the family

• Commitment• ASAP contact the family• 6-8 Days with family 24/7• Available long after the event• Agency must be able to make liaison available for 6-8 days

• Recommended to have two liaisons due to commitment• Work with Iowa C.O.P.S.• Communication

• Getting information to family before media

Family Liaison

• RURAL Agency Resources for Family Liaison• Investigating Agency Case Agent • Homicide Victim Advocate• Iowa COPS

Investigations Liaison

• Goal• Be the link between the investigation with

• Family• Agency • PIO• Community

• RURAL Liaisons• Case Agent if Felonious• Non-Felonious Chief/Sheriff or other Supervisor

Investigations Liaison

• RURAL• Case Agent if Felonious• Non-Felonious Chief/Sheriff or other Supervisor

Media Liaison• Timeliness of information• Briefings before and after each press conference.• Family Briefing before information released to press• Setting boundaries for media:

• At the crime scene• At press briefings• At funeral services

• Conduct media briefing prior to services• Review operations plan with media • Establish media staging areas• Establish guidelines of acceptable behavior during processional and at funeral

• Debriefing following the event• Bringing everyone together and discuss issues or concerns

Media Liaison

• RURAL • May be Chief, Sheriff, Director or Supervisor (along with Investigating Agency)• Could be another agency in area depending on department size.• BE SURE NOT TO GIVE OUT UNNECESSARY CASE FACTS (TRIAL)

Funeral Home / Church / Burial Grounds Liaison• Ankeny Funeral Home provides services• Church or Venue – Family may need to understand the size of the services

• Burial Grounds – Large Logistic planning and coordination• RURAL

• Family• Iowa COPS • local funeral home – Liaison must build relationship and understanding to aid in the

“normal” protocol

Honor Guard Liaison

• Help with posting officers with fallen officer• Help identify menu of honors that can provided at services• Help coordinate Honor Guards from other agencies• Facilitate movement at services• If you do not have an honor guard, identify one

Outside Agencies Liaison

• Lodging coordinator primary source for all questions• Honor Guard was the main contact for all honor guards

• When are the scheduled events• Where to stay• Transportation• Directions to events and to “facilitating” businesses• Protocols

• One phone call should answer all questions

Other Resources

• Hotel/Motel • Transportation• Grief Counseling Needs

• Department• Family of Employees• Community

Planning• Transportation of Fallen Officer

• Events• Visitation• Funeral• Internment• Special Events

• Candle Light Vigil

Visitation/Funeral/Internment

• All plans are done with consideration to the family’s requests• Venue, day, time (guidance from agency)• Fallen Officer in Uniform? Current Photo for presentation?• Special Honors

• Iowa COPS• Honor Guard

• Honor Guard Roles• Media – Before, during, and after• Photography of event

• Family• Department

• Communication to LEOs in state and out of state

Parking and Transportation • Expect large crowds• Security and control• Clear directions and street signage• Segregate: Family/P.O./Media/etc• Large apparatus, motorcycles, other• Clear path for processional coming/leaving• Are buses needed• Park vehicles to assist with processional• Staffing to direct and control• Separate communications• Give family and VIPS placards

Route Selection• Avoid sensitive areas• Include the family• Wide lanes/double lanes• Bridges/large intersections• Traffic control points• Lead vehicle/gap vehicles• Crowds and media• Importance of vehicle pace• Inform the marked vehicles how the flow will work• Always travel under the Flag

Briefing and CommunicationsHold a briefing the morning of each event

• Relay every detail• Bring food and water • Lay out the route• Cover every position• Who’s not welcome• Food/ water/breaks• Bus drop off points• Processional line-up• Supply printed materials for reference• Professionalism and compassion• Allow for questions• Hand out radios if needed/Assign call numbers

Benefits

• Pre-Plan HR benefits / Health Insurance• Death certificates (Multiple Copies - 20)

• Agency Expense• 411/IPERS• Peace Officer Associations• State and Federal benefits• Various others; hall of fame, NRA etc.

CISM / CISD

• Separate Debrief for:• Officers

• Homogenous Groups• Spouses & Kids• Coworkers• EMS• Community

• Other resources: • Local/Regional CISM teams• Pastors• Peer Support

Lessons Learned

• Be prepared• Lean on your resources• Grieve together (department, family, community)• Provide counselling, even when you think its not needed• Make POLICY for officers to see a Psychologist as identified• Monitor everyone you can, Don’t forget you• You, your department, and your community will make it