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referred or ordered to meet with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional at
the department’s expense.

Support for Member’s Serious Injury or Death
In the event of a ranger’s death or critical injury while in the line of duty, his or her survivors will
undoubtedly be overwhelmed dealing with the aftermath. The department, with guidance from the
EAP and the agency investigating the critical incident, provides liaison assistance to a department
member’s immediate survivors in the event of death or critical injury in the line of duty and
provides support during the surviving family’s traumatic readjustment period.

Definitions
Line-of-duty death: A department member’s death by felonious or accidental means during the
course of performing ranger-related duties.

Line-of-duty injury: A department member’s injury by felonious or accidental means during the
course of performing ranger-related duties.

Survivors: Immediate family members, domestic partners, significant others and/or listed
emergency contacts of the deceased or critically injured ranger.

On-duty operations supervisor: On-duty operations supervisor or designee, on-duty lead ranger,
or on-duty senior ranger.

Notifications

The following procedures are to be adhered to in the case of line-of-duty deaths and critical injuries:
• The on-duty operations supervisor will immediately notify the ranger supervisor or designee
who will appoint a member to work with responding and investigating agencies to assure
them the deceased or critically injured ranger’s name is not released to the media or any
member of the general public prior to notification of the ranger’s survivors and then only in
cooperation with the investigating agency(s);
• The operations supervisor or designee designates a department member to inform the
ranger’s immediate family members of his/her condition or death. It is highly recommended
this be done by a trained grief counselor, with the EAP’s assistance, or with the assistance of
a close family friend, religious leader, or person or group that can provide survivors
comfort;
• Notifications are to be made in person unless survivors are out of state and inaccessible, in
which case, notification will be made utilizing a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in
the area where the survivors live;
• Whenever possible, the operations supervisor or designee will join the family at the hospital
(or other scene) to emphasize the department’s support. They will coordinate with medical

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