Line
of Duty Death:
A Police Executive's Worst Nightmare
History and Mission of the LEDR Team
 No
Sheriff or Chief can ever anticipate all of the events and
trauma surrounding the loss of one of their own, especially
when the death occurs in the line of duty. The tasks of
caring for the officer's family as well as the larger police
family, while still maintaining the day-to-day mission of
the department, can be overwhelming.
In 1999,
a group of people dedicated to helping ease that burden
and lessen the trauma of a law enforcement death formed
the Law Enforcement Death Response (LEDR) Team, under the
auspices of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.
Later the LEDR Team partnered with all major law enforcement
organizations and related associations in Wisconsin.
The
LEDR Team comprises a variety of people including Sheriffs,
Chiefs, Deputies, Troopers, Officers, Counselors, Chaplains,
and others interested in helping where needed when a tragedy
occurs. When any active Wisconsin law enforcement officer
dies or is critically injured (municipal, county, tribal,
state, or federal), the LEDR Team Coordinators are notified
and they then contact the Chief or Sheriff to offer assistance.
Although line-of-duty deaths are often the most traumatic,
deaths from suicides or other causes still affect the agency
adversely and the LEDR Team is willing to help with any
law enforcement death.
Many
members of the LEDR Team are trained in Critical Incident
Stress Debriefing (CISM) and will respond to an event immediately
to help the family and affected staff deal with the death.
Other Team members are able to aid the department in the
myriad logistical details surrounding a law enforcement
funeral. Still others work with the department to insure
that all state and federal benefits are properly applied
for and received.
Currently
when a law enforcement death occurs, the Wisconsin State
Patrol’s seven posts serve as the central points of
contact and they then notify the LEDR Team Coordinators.
Once word is received and the department requests assistance,
the Team members respond and stay through the entire event
as needed.
Sheriffs
and Chiefs faced with an officer death need to move quickly
to help ease the devastating trauma when a peace officer
is killed. The LEDR Team can help to provide a calming,
more objective level of assistance during a trying and tragic
time.
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