Fire Investigation (Notes)



Fire Investigation

(Updated through 8/7/04)

ADN/001   FIRE INVESTIGATION OFFICE

▪ Office is comprised of Asst. Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshall, Secretary, and Fire Investigators.

▪ Responsibilities include determining fire cause, origin, and circumstances, and intervention to juvenile fire setters.

ADN/005   STANDARD OF CONDUCT

▪ Fire Investigator offices are held to law enforcement code of ethics.

ADN/010   RECORDS CONTROL AND SECURITY

▪ All investigative personnel are responsible for security of records during normal business hours (after hours=24 hour investigators).

▪ Suppression personnel/outside agencies review files at Fire Investigation office when preparing for trial.

▪ Only investigators may check out files for court or judicial demand.

ADN/011   USE OF FORCE

▪ Only use force necessary to effect lawful arrest, prevent escape, or self-protect.

OPS/011   PRIVACY ACT

▪ With missing ADULTS, the Federal Privacy Act prohibits disclosing personal information to those other than law enforcement (including the person who has filed the Missing Persons report).

▪ If a missing person is found, only the person's welfare may be disclosed (not location).

OPS/013   DEATH SCENE-GENERAL

▪ Bodies may not be removed from scene without approval from the Medical Examiner unless needed to preserve body from further damage.

▪ Moving a body will be accompanied by a report stating the reason for moving and who authorized it.

OPS/013.1  FIRE/POLICE DEPARTMENT HOMICIDE OR DEATH INVESTIGATIONS

▪ Fire death scenes are no different than any other death investigation when dealing with the preservation of evidence.

▪ All Fire scenes where suspicious Human Death is discovered will be investigated conjointly by Fire Department Arson Squad and OCPD Homicide Unit.

OPS/013.2  CRIME SCENE SECURITY [UNEXPLAINED DEATH(S)]

▪ A firefighter will be assigned, or the first police officer to arrive, will secure the scene and maintain scene security

▪ The officer/firefighter shall establish a crime scene perimeter and shall use barrier tape when possible.

OPS/013.3  CRIME SCENE LOG (ALL DEATHS)

▪ The first firefighter/police officer assigned to security will be responsible for the Crime Scene Log and will turn the security and scene Log over to the first police officer to arrive.

OPS/013.4  ASSIGNED OFFICERS' DUTIES

▪ Duties of police officers and firefighters include notification of the Homicide supervisor and technical Investigation Units through the Dispatch with unexplained deaths.

▪ After the scene is turned over to investigators, officers and firefighters will be given new assignments through the Homicide Supervisor and Incident Commander.

OPS/013.5  FIELD SUPERVISOR'S DUTIES

▪ The Incident Commander, on fire scenes, should do a preliminary cause determination prior to calling an Investigator.

▪ A skeleton crew of firefighters for hot spots and security of the scene should be provided until the investigator(s) arrive.

▪ Fire deaths, multiple alarms and burn injuries that could result in fatalities are automatic response for Investigators.

▪ Fire injury incidents are called by the Incident Commander.

OPS/013.6  MEDICAL PERSONNEL AT CRIME SCENE

▪ If conclusive signs of death are evident and medical personnel have not entered the crime scene, police officers and firefighters assigned security duties will not allow the medical personnel in the scene.

▪ One (1) Medical Technician will be allowed to enter to determine if a victim is alive or not and will be accompanied by a police officer or firefighter.

OPS/013.7  EMSA PROCEDURES AT FIRE OR CRIME SCENE

▪ EMSA units assigned to scenes where there are injuries or fatalities will provide assistance according to the EMSA Policy Manual.

OPS/013.8  EMSA PATIENT CARE PROTOCOL

▪ During fire injury and fatality incidents, follow routine procedure.

OPS/013.9  USE OF CARDIAC MONITOR TO DETERMINE DEATH

▪ See Investigators Guide Book and OCPD Procedures Manual.

OPS/013.10  SUICIDE INVESTIGATION

▪ Handled the same as FIRE DEATH AND HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES in Investigators Guide book and OCPD Procedures Manual.

OPS/013.11  SUICIDE NOTES

▪ Notes should not be handled and shall be turned over to Investigator or OCPD Technical Investigator.

OPS/013.12  NATURAL DEATH INVESTIGATIONS

▪ OCPD officer handles incident.

▪ If death is not fire related, further activities are terminated unless officer needs assistance.

OPS/013.13  CONTACTING THE MEDICAL EXAMINER

▪ If death was not attended by physician, Investigator notifies Medical Examiner and prepares to present Medical Examiner with all available information.

▪ If Medical Examiner authorizes release of body to family, Investigator obtains name of funeral home the family requests and instructs Dispatch to notify the funeral home.

▪ When no family is present, and investigators are unable to locate any family, Medical examiner sends someone to pick up the body

▪ If Medical Examiner decides to have body transported to his/her office, assigned officer will remain at scene until transporting personnel arrive.

OPS/013.14  CASE REPORTS

▪ Review Investigators Guide Book

OPS/014  JUVENILE PROCEDURES

▪ A child is defined as any married or unmarried person under 18 years of age who is charged with law violation.

OPS/014.1  PURPOSE OF PROCEDURES

▪ To secure each juvenile, subject to police contact, such care and guidance as will best serve his/her welfare and best interests of the State.

OPS/014.2  FIRE DEPARTMENT PROCEDURES

▪ With juvenile suspects, fire personnel call Investigator to scene to determine disposition

▪ Incident Command, or assigned personnel, detain juvenile, their parents or guardians and witnesses until investigator(s) arrive.

OPS/014.3  TAKING A CHILD INTO CUSTODY

▪ PD has authority to take a child into custody under same circumstances and in same manner as if the child was an adult.

OPS/014.4  DELINQUENCY

▪ If in officer's opinion the child need not be detained, child may be released to the parents, legal guardian or court.

OPS/014.5  INTERROGATION AND INTERVIEW OF JUVENILES

▪ All juvenile suspects in custody are given the Miranda Warning prior to being interviewed.

▪ Miranda Warning is given in presence of parents, guardian or attorney. (must be present during all questioning)

OPS/014.6  DETENTION OF JUVENILES

▪ OCPD will accept and hold persons 16 and 17 years of age who have been arrested on 1 or more Class 1 Crimes.

▪ Persons under 16 years old charged with Class 1 Crimes will be detained at Oklahoma Juvenile Detention Center (JDC).

OPS/014.7  SICK - INJURED- INTOXICATED ARRESTEE

▪ Any arrested juvenile who is sick, injured or under the influence goes to hospital PRIOR to transporting to detention facility.

▪ UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will a juvenile be placed in DETOX.

OPS/014.8  JUVENILE OFFENDERS RELEASED TO THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JDC

▪ Juveniles arrested for Class One Crimes, who have previous criminal history, or are combative, will be placed in JDC.

OPS/014.9  RELEASE TO YOUTH SERVICES OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY

▪ A juvenile arrested for a misdemeanor or non-violent felony without prior criminal history can be placed in Youth Services of Oklahoma County.

OPS/014.10  JUVENILE ADJUDICATION

▪ Juvenile adjudication, for incarceration, interrogation and/or detention, is a formal deposition by a juvenile court where a child under 18 violates Federal or State law or Municipal ordinances (excluding traffic ordinances unless habitual).

OPS/014.11  FINGERPRINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHING JUVENILES

▪ Juveniles arrested for felony crimes are fingerprinted and photographed prior to detention in Oklahoma County JDC, released to Youth Services facilities or to parents.

OPS/014.12  RUNAWAY JUVENILES

▪ Runaway juveniles will be handled according to OCPD Procedures Manual and Investigators Guide Book.

OPS/014.13  BOOKING PROCEDURES

▪ Arrested juveniles will be booked into Oklahoma City Detention facility same as adults until disposition is established.

OPS/014.14  GUARDING OF PRISONERS

▪ Officers are responsible for guarding prisoners admitted to hospitals.

OPS/014.15  OPERATION FIRESAFE

▪ Operation FireSAFE is for children who set fires.

▪ According to State Statutes, children under age 7 are not held accountable for their actions. and are referred to Operation FireSAFE.

▪ Juveniles over age 7 are handled with charges and disposition determined by Juvenile District Attorney's Office.

OPS/014.16  FIRE SUPPRESSION ROLE

▪ On fires where Juveniles are suspected, call for an Investigator who will be responsible for handling the case disposition.

▪ If more than one person handles evidence, a report will be made by those involved.

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