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328 - Major Incident Notification

328.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to members of this department in determining when, how and to whom notification of major incidents should be made.

328.2 POLICY

The Hartwell County Sheriff’s Department recognizes that certain incidents should be brought to the attention of supervisors or other specified personnel of this department to facilitate the coordination of activities and ensure that inquiries from the media and the public may be properly addressed.

328.3 MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR NOTIFICATION

Most situations where the media show a strong interest are also of interest to the Sheriff and the affected Division Commander. The following list of incident types is provided as a guide for notification and is not intended to be all inclusive:

  • Homicides
  • Traffic accidents with fatalities
  • Officer-involved shooting - on or off duty (see Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths Policy for special notifications)
  • Significant injury or death to employee - on or off duty
  • Death of a prominent Hartwell County Sheriff’s Department official
  • Arrest of a department employee or prominent Hartwell County Sheriff’s Department official
  • Aircraft crash with major damage and/or injury or death
  • In-custody deaths

328.4 ADMINISTRATIVE BUREAU RESPONSIBILITY

The Administrative Bureau is responsible for making the appropriate notifications. The Administrative Bureau shall make reasonable attempts to obtain as much information on the incident as possible before notification. The Administrative Bureau shall attempt to make the notifications as soon as practicable. Notification should be made by calling the home telephone number first and then by any other available contact numbers.

328.4.1 STAFF NOTIFICATION

In the event an incident occurs described in the Major Incident Notification Policy, the Sheriff shall be notified along with the affected Division Commander and the Detective Lieutenant if that division is affected.

328.4.2 DETECTIVE NOTIFICATION

If the incident requires that a detective respond from home, the immediate supervisor of the appropriate detail shall be contacted who will then contact the appropriate detective.

328.4.3 PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO)

The Public Information Officer shall be called after members of staff have been notified that it appears the media may have a significant interest in the incident. The task and role of Public Information Officer is currently being handled by the Office Manager.

Death Investigation

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