General Policy Information
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
Latest Revision Date: 5/15/2013
Title 1 - Department Structure and Function
1.010 - Authority and Jurisdiction
1.025 - Consultant Contract Administration
1.040 - Department Mission Statement and Priorities
1.050 - Functional Structure and Command of the Department
1.060 - General Information and Definitions
1.090 - Organization and Function-Administration
1.100 - Organization and Function-Chief of Police
1.110 - Organization and Function-Operations
1.119 - Unit Number Assignments
1.140 - Special Event Planning
1.160 - University of Washington
1.170 - Inspections and Audits
Title 2 - Department Employment
2.020 - Appointments and Probation
2.030 - Retirements and Separations
Title 3 - Employee Welfare
3.035 - Reasonable Accommodation (ADA)
3.050 - Coordinating Officer Fatalities
3.070 - Early Intervention System (EIS)
3.080 - Travel Training System
3.090 - Employee Recognition Awards Program
3.170 - Honoring Those Killed in the Line of Duty
3.200 - Limited Duty Assignments
3.270 - Police Charity Committee
Title 4 - Timekeeping
Title 5 - Employee Conduct
5.002 - Public and Internal Complaint Process
5.030 - Criminal Case Testimony
5.040 - EEO Complaints and Investigations
5.060 - Employee Political Activity
5.090 - Operations Bureau General Personnel Matters
5.100 - Operations Bureau Individual Responsibilities
5.130 - Supervisor/Employee Relationships
5.150 - Use of Private Vehicles for City Business
5.160 - Citizen Observation of Officers
5.170 - Alcohol and Substance Use
5.175 - Critical Incident Stress Management Communications
Title 6 - Arrests, Search and Seizure
6.010 - Reporting Arrests and Detentions
6.020 - Arrests and Detentions of Foreign Nationals
6.060 - Collection of Information for Law Enforcement Purposes
6.090 - Full Restraint Position
6.140 - Locating a Cell Phone during an Emergency
6.150 - Advising Persons of Right to Counsel and Miranda
6.181 - Performing Inventory Searches
6.220 - Social Contacts, Terry Stops and Arrests
6.247 - Reviewing Use of Force Incidents
Title 7 - Evidence and Property
7.010 - Converting Property-Evidence for Departmental Use
7.020 - Evidence, Private Property collection & Release
7.050 - Firearms and Shell Casings as Evidence
7.070 - Narcotics and Firearms Property Release for Training Canines
Title 8 - Use of Force
8.050 - Use of Force Definitions
8.300 - Use of Force Reporting and Investigations
8.400 - Reviewing Use of Force
Title 9 - Equipment and Uniforms
9.010 - Employee Appearance Standards
9.050 - Reinbursement for Personal Property
9.070 - Uniform and Equipment Committee
9.080 - Firearms Qualification Review Board
9.090 - Rifle and Shotgun Program
9.100 - Department Firearms Management
Title 10 - Police Facilities & Security
Title 11 - Detainee Management
11.010 - Detainee Management in Department Facilities
11.020 - Transportation of Detainees
Title 12 - Department Information Systems
12.030 - Computer Hardware & Devices
12.055 - Criminal Justice Research
12.060 - Department Forms Control
12.070 - Department Publications
12.080 - Department Records Access, Inspection & Dissemination
12.090 - Departmental Correspondence
12.091 - Mobile Reporting Entity (MRE) Laptops
12.110 - Use of Department E-mail & Internet Systems
Title 13 - Vehicle Operations
13.010 - Collisions Involving Department Vehicles
13.015 - Collision Review Board
13.030 - Emergency Vehicle Operations
13.031 - Vehicle Eluding/Pursuits
13.040 - Patrol Operations Equipment, Police Vehicles and Facilities
13.050 - Policing by Mountain Bike
Title 14 - Emergency Operations
14.060 - Serious Incident Plan
14.070 - Serious Injury or Fatality to a Police Officer
Title 15 - Primary Investigation
15.015 – Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices
15.055 - Death Investigations (Non Traffic)
15.080 - Follow-up Unit Notification and Follow-up Investigation
15.140 - Narcotics Activity Report
15.180 - Primary Investigations
15.185 - Vulnerable Adults-Elder Abuse and Neglect
15.210 - Investigating Property Held by a Pawnshop or Used-Goods Store
15.215 - Domestic Violence Firearms Seizures 15.250 - Interpreters/Translators 15.260 - Collision Investigations 15.270 - Trespass Warning Program 15.275 - Enforcing Trespass in Parks 15.290 - Stay Out of Areas of Prostitution (SOAP) 15.300 - Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA)-Define Boundaries 15.310 - Foreign Nationals Seeking Asylum 15.320 - Police Action on Military Reservations
Title 16 - Patrol Operations
16.030 - Citizen Rider Program
16.040 - Community Police Teams
16.070 - Responding to Monitored Alarms
16.080 - Fireworks Disposal and Disposition
16.100 - Patrol Training and Publications
16.110 - Referring Subjects to the Crisis Solutions Center
16.130 - Sick and Injured Persons
16.140 - Traffic Direction and Control
16.170 - Automatic License Plate Readers
16.180 - Patrol Operations Order
16.190 - Labor Management Disputes
15.055 – Death Investigation (Non-Traffic)
Effective Date: 3/6/2010
I. Patrol Officer Responsibilities
A. Secure the scene and request that a Patrol Sergeant respond.
B. Do not allow any persons to enter the scene.
C. Keep notes regarding the incident. Include the following:
1. Position and description of the body in relation to the surroundings, and
2. Presence or absence of any weapons.
D. Identify all persons found at the scene and detain them until the arrival of a Patrol Sergeant.
E. Do not move or search the body or room for identification purposes or other information.
Exception: A search may be conducted as directed by Homicide/Assault Unit detectives or the Medical Examiner.
F. Complete a General Offense Report, and an Officer Statement (when appropriate).
II. Patrol Sergeant Responsibilities
A. Respond in person to all dead human body calls.
B. Determine if a follow-up unit needs to respond.
C. Assume command of all patrol activities at the scene.
D. Determine the type of death: natural, accidental, suicide, or possible homicide.
1. When a patrol sergeant responds to any death of a person under the age of 18 the sergeant shall consult with a Homicide sergeant. A homicide sergeant can be contacted through Communications.
III. Death Investigation
A. Natural Death
1. Collect all necessary information to substantiate a natural death.
2. Contact the Medical Examiner at 206-731-3232.
a. The Medical Examiner's Office may have the family arrange for a funeral home to take custody of the body, if the primary investigator is satisfied that a natural death occurred, and the Medical Examiner's Office can verify the following:
(1) Medical history of the deceased,
(2) The doctor of the deceased agrees to sign the death certificate, and
(3) Family member(s) are available.
b. If the Medical Examiner does not respond, obtain the assigned "Non-Jurisdiction Assumed" number (NJA).
c. If the Medical Examiner responds to take custody of the body, obtain the "King County Medical Examiner's" (KCME) case number.
3. Stay at the scene until the body is removed by either the Medical Examiner or a funeral home.
4. Complete the General Offense Report.
a. Document facts that substantiate a natural death. Including, but not limited to:
(1) Medical history/medications,
(2) Past activities, and
(3) Complaints of illness.
b. Include the "NJA" or "KCME" number in the report.
B. Accidental or Suicide
1. Obtain all information necessary to substantiate the type of death, accidental or suicide.
a. Note the position, condition, and description of the body.
b. Obtain historical information regarding the deceased.
c. Identify and interview all witnesses.
2. Officers will ensure that two or more photographs of the scene are taken.
3. Contact the Medical Examiner (206-731-3232) and have an investigator respond.
a. Obtain the KCME case number.
4. Stay at the scene until the body is removed by the Medical Examiner.
5. Document facts substantiating accidental death or suicide in the General Offense Report.
a. Include the KCME case number in the report.
6. Complete a sketch of the crime scene and forward it to Data Center..
7. Contact a Homicide Unit sergeant when the suicide victim is a minor under the age of 18. The Homicide Unit will respond in all suicides of minors and will assume investigative responsibilities.
C. Possible Homicide or Unusual Circumstances
1. Contact the Homicide and Assault Unit.
2. Remain at the scene until relieved by the follow-up detectives.
3. Assist the detectives until no longer needed.
4. Prepare a General Offense Report and Officer Statement documenting the information obtained at the scene and the release of the scene to the follow-up unit.
D. Dive Rescue, Drowning and Near Drowning Incidents
1. The Seattle Police Department is responsible for any on scene command of all drowning, near drowning and dive rescue response calls. Both Police and Fire personnel may be involved in these responses.
2. The Duty Captain will be called to and will respond to all incidents involving a dive rescue, drowning and near drowning.