As the casket reaches the gravesite, the drummers and pipers may begin playing the hymn “Amazing Grace” and approach the grave from their position in the distance. They will march until they arrive about twenty feet from the foot end of the casket and stop. When the pipers and drummers reach this point and cease playing, the one calling commands will give the order “Order Arms, Fall In.” This will be the indicating command for uniformed personnel to take the place that has been designated for them at the graveside service. The committal service will be held by the clergy or chaplain. At the conclusion of the committal service, the honor guard will fold the flag, if one is being used, and it will be presented by the chief or highest- ranking official of the agency that is present. If the deceased was a veteran of the military, a military honor guard may present the flag folding honors and play “Taps.” The committal service is often concluded by the bagpipers playing as they march to the casket and then continue playing as they march off into the distance (Silloway, 2011).
this point to prepare for the “walk of honor”; however, this may also be done at the conclusion of a service when there will not be an immediate committal service. In the walk of honor, all the uniformed personnel in attendance form two lines facing one another in an orderly fashion. These two lines form a path in which the casket or urn may be able to pass through as moved to the place of committal. The members of the agency in which the deceased was a part of will be nearest to the coach or caisson. A designated individual will call the command “Attention” when the casket/urn is removed from the coach or caisson. All uniformed personnel will come to stand at attention and await the next command. The individual calling commands will then command “Present Arms.” This command will signal the pallbearers to begin a slow march with the casket to the grave while all uniformed personnel render a hand salute as the casket nears them. The casket will be followed by the immediate family, agency officials in descending order of rank, and other dignitaries (Silloway, 2011). It should be noted, in lieu of a casket or urn, when a memorial service is held, this same walk of honor can be performed for the family.
LAW ENFORCEMENT LINE OF DUTY DEATHS
Baltimore Police Department has Policy 1714 that was published in April of 2017 by the order of the Police Commissioner. This policy begins with the following statement: “Standardized Response. It is the policy of the Baltimore Police Department is to provide detailed guidelines for the planning and implementation of police related funerals and to standardize the BPD response to the death of all active and retired members.” The policy continues with explaining the efficiency aspect of following the procedures of a set policy. A Line of Duty Death poses many tasks, such as the logistics of a large scale, public funeral. It is explained that “the policy will eliminate the duplication of efforts; delineate responsibilities for those involved in the implementation; minimize confusion; and ensure the BPD presents families with well-organized and professional services” (BPD, 2017). This same logic should be followed by the funeral home to ensure that the wishes of the family are carried out while honoring the life and sacrifice the officer has made. Funeral homes may not be able to have a written policy to follow exactly as the Baltimore Police Department and other agencies do. This would not be feasible due to the necessity of serving multiple groups with various needs. However, being organized and intentional with the planning and execution when the need arises will benefit all involved. The lead director of a Line of Duty Death funeral or memorial service should be prepared to incorporate the policies and procedures of a department in the duties and responsibilities of the funeral home staff. Though there will always be a variance in the wishes of families and departments, there are typically many similarities. Of these similarities is that the family of an active or retired law enforcement officer will often wish for the deceased to be dressed in an official uniform. If the family does not have the personal uniform of the deceased readily available, the agency will usually be able to assist in obtaining such. The Quartermaster or another member of the department can assist with obtaining the required uniform, as well as the appropriate accouterments. As previously stated, fellow officers of the deceased will often stand guard near the deceased at the funeral home, sometimes around the clock. Before the deceased is prepared, dressed, and casketed, the officers standing guard will normally choose to remain in a position relative to the door of the preparation or dressing room. These fellow officers will not necessarily be members of the formal honor guard, and thus may not be the same as the formal “Casket Guard.” During any formal viewing and visitation periods at the funeral home or church, members of the honor guard will perform a formal and ceremonial “Casket Guard.” The Casket Guard will typically consist of a rotating team of two members of the honor guard. On fifteen-minute intervals, a member of the Casket Guard will take up post on either end of the casket. After posted
Law enforcement officers serve and protect the public twenty- four hours a day, seven days a week. The service officers provide often places the officers in extremely dangerous situations. All too often, these dangerous situations can result in the death of officers. Law enforcement agencies, at all levels, are typically a close-knit group. The personnel of these agencies often run toward dangerous situations while depending upon their colleagues to assist in their own protection. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has estimated, on average, that one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty every 53 hours in the United States (Weissberg, 2011). Experiencing life-threatening encounters with colleagues, while depending on those colleagues for one’s own protection, can lead to a closeness in personal and professional relationships. When the worst outcome for an officer is realized and a Line of Duty Death occurs, the colleagues of that officer have traditions and customs reserved to honor the fallen. The funeral services for a fallen police officer are full of pageantry and splendor that is not matched by other formal police functions. This is considered necessary by many to promote healing, to re-instill pride in the department, and above all to honor the dead (Weissberg, 2011). These tributes are normally paid by members of the fallen officer’s agency, as well as personnel from other agencies. Many of these customs and traditions are also called upon to honor the memory and service of officers who pass away from causes outside of the line of duty, as well as former and retired officers. In this course, many of these customs and traditions will be discussed, as well as the role funeral directors may have to properly honor these law enforcement officers. Law enforcement agencies are composed of both sworn officers and civilian personnel. Any member or employee of an agency who is killed in the line of duty constitutes a Line of Duty Death (LODD). A common conception of a Line of Duty Death is when an officer is shot, or otherwise killed, by a perpetrator while in the commission of a crime. A LODD is not limited to this manner of death. The criteria observed by agencies and organizations to specify LODDs will vary. As a well-defined and clarified example, the Los Angeles Police Department has specified seven situations that are to be considered a Line of Duty Death. These fatal scenarios include officers who are on duty at the time of death, are actively involved in apprehending criminal(s), are confronting potential or actual criminals, are involved in preventing criminal activity, or are protecting others from serious harm. A death is considered a LODD if death occurs while protecting another officer, emergency personnel, or a private citizen with the state of California (LAPD, 2008). Many agencies have standardized and detailed responses to be followed when a Line of Duty Death occurs. For example, the
Book Code: FTX1624
Page 109
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