Crime & Trauma Scene Cleanup

I’ve been a police officer for the past seven years.  Too many times, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of being dispatched to the scene of a violent crime or serious accident.  Within minutes, several police officers, firefighters and EMT’s arrive to assist, all rushing about, dilegently performing their duties with the syncronization of a rolex watch.  Somewhere though, in the back of an ambulance or hiding in the background waiting for help, is the victim.  The victim, not necessarily injured, is the homeowner or lessee, responsible for the condition of her home or apartment.  She’s approached several times by first responders, prodding her for information, asking questions either she can’t think about or doesn’t have the answers to.  All the while, she’s looking at the remains of a loved one, remains still present after the body is removed.  Blood, bone matter and other bodily fluids strewn about the floors and walls.  In a state of shock, she utters repeatedly, “what am I to do”, “WHAT AM I TO DO”!  No answer.  With further clarity she asks several uniformed individuals nearby, “who will help me clean this up”?  Still, no answer.  Tears stream down her face as she slowly begins to realize that she will be left alone.  The frenzy will end; the officers, firefighters and EMT’s will leave and she will be left to clean the aftermath of a horrible tragedy.

This shouldn’t be the end of the story.  Any public servant dispatched to the scene of a crime or trauma scene should feel obligated to offer any and all assistance necessary to the victims.  This includes taking additional steps to ensure the victim knows that crime and trauma scene cleanup companies are available to help.  Too many victims are all too often left alone without receiving this information.  It’s not necessary for first responders to “sell” a particular company, but to point the victim in the right direction should be a legitimate and justified level of action.        

Please, I encourage any first responder reading this blog to think about the victims and their cries for help.  These cries may not be understood and they may be faint, but they are there.   Take a few minutes to talk with the victim after everyone else has left.  Find out what you can do to help and what information the victim may need that will help them to begin the healing process.