NCJ Number
193569
Date Published
2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Using the occupational death reporting procedures outlined by civil law to improve police suicide reporting would provide possible solutions in determining the cause of death, guarding survivor and department privacy, and providing accurate death records.
Abstract
Both the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and Part 1904 of the Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR Part 1904) require the recording of all work-related fatalities according to prescribed procedures. Part 1904 requires that "Within 8 hours after the death of any employee from a work-related incident or the inpatient hospitalization of three or more employees so affected shall orally report the fatality/multiple hospitalization by telephone or in person to the Area Office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that is nearest to the site of the incident or by using the OSHA toll-free telephone number." Adapting this to law enforcement, notification could be made to the U.S. Department of Justice within 8 hours of a police suicide. The Department of Justice would be responsible for investigating deaths, compiling statistics, and implementing programs to reduce police suicides. Both Federal and State statutory and case law address the issues of confidential communications in civil law. Any post-death investigation by the Justice Department or the local police department would be protected under both Federal Freedom of Information regulations or State regulations. Another practice required by OSHA is that a Log of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses be kept by States to document when an occupational injury or illness occurred, to whom, the nature of the job, and other significant information. Such a police suicide log could be compiled by every law enforcement agency. This log would be available to the Justice Department for inspections or statistical compilations. The log could indicate any intervention techniques used.