James H. Shaw, Ph.D.
ABSTRACT
The process of recovery by the spouse and immediate family of a
deceased officer is directly related to events that follow the death
notification. The primary purpose of this paper is to offer insight and to
suggest procedures that foster rather than inhibit the survivor recovery
process. These procedures should be considered in the development of
agency policies for use in the event of a duty-related death. The duties of
law enforcement personnel contain many distasteful elements; however,
the most negative is the death notification to the spouse of a police
officer. The method in which this message is delivered and the agency
support to the survivors have a significant impact on the bereavement
process. Inappropriate actions can result in serious psychological
consequences for both the spouse and the immediate family. The
importance of a positive process was emphasized during the Concerns of
Police Survivors Seminar by the survivors of deceased law enforcement
officers.
PLANNING FOR DUTY-RELATED DEATHS
Advance planning and a written standard operating procedure are essential, as
with other contingency planning, prior to an incident. It is not unusual for agencies to
have procedures for dealing with fiscal and insurance issues in the event of an officer
death, but seldom are there procedures for emotional support of the surviving spouse,
children, and extended family.
A planning and resource group should be established that includes a cadre of
persons who will assist the agency and the survivors in the event of a duty-related
death. These resources include:
1. The agency psychologist, legal advisor, fiscal officer and chaplain.
2. A member of the Concerns of Police Survivors organization.
3. A financial planning expert who is known to be reputable and who will donate
his/her services.
4. A representative of the 100 Club and/or other law enforcement oriented
community support service organizations.
The manual provisions should outline the process for the fiscal officer to notify
the Bureau of Justice Assistance to process the death benefit in a timely manner, to
process other job-related death benefits, and to determine procedures for payment of
funeral expenses. The agency should determine, in advance, who has responsibility
for payment. Involvement of the agency in the funeral often impacts the cost of the
service and those costs should not be passed on to the spouse. In fact, it is
recommended the agency pay all the basic funeral expenses.
As a product of this planning process, it would be helpful if each officer and
spouse are furnished with a copy of the procedures along with a listing of all
duty-related death benefits. This information will allow informed decisions concerning
need for supplemental insurance coverage.
Police officers seldom consider their own vulnerability, and many times that
issue is only focused upon at the funeral of a fellow officer. Often that concern is as
much a reality confrontation for themselves as a concern for the slain officer and
his/her family. Due to a preference to ignore the possibility of death, officers may not
have prepared wills, considered adequate insurance needs, or addressed other
death-related issues. Therefore, it is recommended the agency provide a mechanism to
encourage the officer to complete a will and to discuss insurance needs. The legal
advisor and agency fiscal officer can facilitate the procedure. There should also be a
procedure to have the officers review their insurance beneficiary at least annually. It is
all too common to have death benefits awarded to a former spouse instead of the
intended beneficiary.
DEATH NOTIFICATIONS
The spouse often comments that the officer who delivered the death message
was not a friend of the deceased, or the messenger was not held in favor by the slain
officer or the spouse. Thus, the notification procedure may lack the compassion the
survivors desire.
It is recommended the agency require each officer to complete a death
notification form. The form should be maintained in a sealed envelope in each officers'
working file where it is immediately available. The form should contain the following
information:
1. A listing, in order of preference, the names of three officers who would
deliver a message of serious injury or death.
2. A listing of who should be notified by the agency, giving home and work
addresses, telephone numbers, and their relationship to the officer. This
can become complicated with multiple marriages.
3. The names of officers who would serve as the liaison between the agency
and the family. It is recommended both a male and a female officer be
assigned.
4. The name of the officer who would clean out the deceased officer's locker
and return issue equipment to the agency from both the locker and
residence.
5. If clergy are to be involved, their names and telephone numbers.
6. Any special requests to the agency regarding the notification, pall bearers,
funeral, burial or memorial.
In the event of a serious injury or death, immediate personal notification is
essential. Many families have scanners and the media will pick up immediately on an
injury or death of a police officer. Learning about the injury or death from a friend or the
media can have a devastating effect upon the spouse and the family. It is also essential
to protect the family from the media, which, on occasion, has shown an appalling lack
of sensitivity.
When notifying the spouse, two officers should be dispatched—one to transport
the spouse and one to remain at the home to be with the children, answer the
telephone, etc. Often, the police chief makes the notification personally. His presence
at the notification is not essential; however, personal contact by the chief as soon as
practical is recommended. The family of the officer must never be allowed to feel the
administration is noncaring. Further, the family should be provided continuous
departmental support by liaison officers until after the funeral.
When the notification is made, it is obvious to the recipient it is not a social call.
The spouse is aware the problem is serious and the use of any delaying tactics are not
appropriate. Although it is natural for the notification officer to attempt to help resolve
the grief, well-meaning comments are often offensive to the spouse. The spouse should
be provided with an accurate account of the events surrounding the incident and the
current medical condition. There are few exceptions to this rule, as later the survivors
will usually learn they have not been told the "whole story" and may feel angry and
betrayed. Immediately after notification, the spouse will usually want to be taken to the
hospital, and this request should be honored.
Sometimes well-meaning officers will want to protect the spouse from seeing the
deceased until after the body has been prepared at the funeral home. If the spouse
wishes to see the body at the hospital, this should be allowed. If the body is mutilated
or burned, that fact should be presented; however, if the spouse insists upon seeing
the body, the request should be considered.
From the time of the death until the funeral, the agency should offer continued
appropriate support services such as child care, telephone answering, notifications,
assistance in dealing with the response from the public and other agencies, meal
assistance, and transportation. Some of the support services will be required for some
time following the funeral.
It is essential for the family to be actively involved in planning the funeral
arrangements and their wishes fully considered. A common complaint is that the
agency determined the funeral to be their "event" and disregarded the wishes of the
survivors.
Immediately following the death, two valuable outside sources of support are
members of the Concerns of Police Survivors organization and the clergy. The COPS
volunteers have first-hand knowledge of the needs of survivors following the death of a
police officer. Experience has indicated the ability to recover from the death is
enhanced when the spouse and family have a strong religious faith. Even if the spouse
is not religious, appropriate support by the clergy can be comforting. Of course, if the
survivors request the clergy not be involved, that request should be honored.
Officers dedicate a portion of their lives to the law enforcement profession and
would like to believe they have had a positive influence in helping their community to
be a better place in which to live. It is essential to convey to the survivors that the
officer's life made a difference. It is necessary that the spouse and immediate family be
assured that the death has some positive meaning, the officer was important to the
agency, and the memory of the officer will be preserved. It makes little difference to the
family if the officer died as a result of a shootout, was killed by a drunk driver, or died
as a result of an accident on the agency firearms range. The important issues are that
the officer was on duty and the duty was related to the mission of protecting and
serving the public. Therefore, it is recommended that all duty-related deaths be
acknowledged by a permanent memorial at the agency or other appropriate public
area.
The average age for duty-related deaths is approximately 25 years. At this age
there are often young children left without a parent. The parents of the slain officer are
also intimately affected by the death. Following the death, there is often friction
between the parents and the spouse, and it is not unusual for open hostility and
competition to be present when the agency presents the officer's badge and/or
memorial plaque. It is suggested the agency make a joint presentation to both the
surviving spouse and the parents of the officer. This action is inexpensive, extends a
measure of condolence and appreciation for the life of the slain officer, should go a
long way toward eliminating the competition and friction that may be present between
the parents and the spouse, and reduces the anger that may be directed toward the
agency. If the officer is not married, but has a fiance (e), provisions should be provided
to include that person in the memorial service.
Because many officers attempt to overcontrol their emotions, often there is a
false belief the family knows the risks of the job and the survivors are emotionally
strong enough to handle the death with very limited support and intervention by the
agency. This view is not realistic with most law enforcement families, as their social
support system is often directly related to the agency. Research has shown that
spouses of deceased officers often develop symptoms similar to those included in the
diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Some of these symptoms may have
developed because of improper handling of the details after the death. Therefore, it is
recommended the agency provide support services from the time of the death until
several months following the funeral.
It is comforting for the widows to know there is someone they can call for
assistance. Some widows express their appreciation that officers check with them on
an ongoing basis to determine that no assistance is needed, or to assist them with
requested tasks. However, the support can be overdone. For example, some widows
have complained they were overprotected by officers who have run background checks
on new male friends, have provided advice on who they consider to be appropriate
companions, or who have attempted to protect them by not sharing pertinent facts with
the family concerning the incident and/or legal proceedings.
Children are often neglected when it comes to post-death counseling. They can
have unresolved conflicts and feel personal guilt over the loss of their parent. Children
need to be given the opportunity to express their concerns with the death or to resolve
angry prior thoughts and comments concerning the deceased parent. For example,
children, when they are angry, often think about or state that they wish their parent
were dead. These thoughts and statements take on major emotional consequences
when that parent is killed.
It is recommended both the surviving parent and children be encouraged to seek
psychotherapy shortly after the funeral. The selection of a therapist is critical for the
success of the bereavement. The therapist should be licensed by the state and also
have an in-depth knowledge of the philosophy and workings of the agency as well as
the typical interactions present in a law enforcement family. An inexperienced
counselor can easily say the "wrong thing," thus increasing the difficulty of
bereavement.
The children's therapist should be experienced in working with children who
have lost a parent through death. This is a fairly specific specialty and it should not be
assumed that the therapist who treats the surviving parent can also successfully treat
the children. The police psychologist who advises the agency is usually the best
referral source for locating an appropriate therapist. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The surviving spouse is confronted with varied essential decisions shortly after
the funeral, which includes the problem of investing death benefit funds. The $100,000
Department of Justice death benefit, pension funds, other insurance, and donations
represent a sizable income that must be carefully invested in order to provide for the
future. It is a common complaint from survivors that numerous persons representing
various investment schemes begin calling shortly after the funeral. Most spouses do
not have experience dealing with large sums of money nor the knowledge necessary to
select an appropriate financial planner. The names of preselected planners who have
been screened by the agency are greatly appreciated. TRIAL
If a suspect has been charged in the death, a trial will be scheduled. During the
trial process, it is important to keep the family advised. It is essential to provide the
family with a complete briefing just prior to the start of the trial to ensure they will be
aware of critical issues before learning of them through the media. If, during the trial,
additional issues are to be raised, the family should be so advised, in advance.
The family will be making a decision concerning attendance at the trial. There is
an absolute controversy as to the benefits of the survivors attending the trial.
Attendance is an individual decision of each survivor as he/she may feel a need to
represent the deceased spouse and/or to bring closure to the death. On the other hand,
if they have been thoroughly briefed, they may not see the need to attend.
RESOURCES
The information for this paper was taken from actual incidents and concerns and
recommendations related by surviving spouses of law enforcement officers who were
killed in the line of duty. The spouses were attending the Concerns of Police Survivors
annual seminar, held during the month of May in Washington, DC.
Agencies planning to develop or modify policies and procedures have several
additional resources to contact for assistance. These include: The International
Conference of Police Chaplains, the Psychological Services Section of the International
Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Concerns of Police Survivors organization.
Additional information can be gained from the following resources:
International Association of Chiefs of Police (1989, May), "Support services for
survivors," Police Chief, pp.20-27.
Stillman, Francis A. (1987, January). "Line of duty deaths: Survivor and departmental
responses." National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, Concerns of
Police Survivors, Inc., Grant #85-U-CX-0012.
Concerns of Police Survivors. (1988, October). Support services to surviving families of
line-of-duty deaths. Brandywine, MD: Author.
