The importance of the role of patrol officers responding to a child death cannot be underestimated but is often overlooked. Actions taken or not taken during the initial response have ramifications that may impact the investigation at every stage. This course will address critical aspects of child deaths specific to patrol to include:
1) Notifications: Who to call when and under what circumstances
2) Scene security: Covering initial scene and hospital
3) Statements: Documenting initial statements, and how to interpret them
4) Grief: How to handle it, how to get information, and how to interpret
5) Evidence: What should patrol be prepared to do in certain cases
6) Policy and Procedure: Establishing policy to prevent mistakes