3-513 - Waste and Medical Debris Used at Crime Scenes and Traffic Accidents

Policy

MPD employees are responsible for removing any non-biohazard items at a crime scene or traffic accident. This includes properly disposing of rubber gloves and crime scene tape.

Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD) personnel are responsible for removing any medical debris, blood and other bodily fluids from a crime scene, traffic accident, or in public places such as sidewalks and streets, and decontaminating the area.

The MPD on- scene supervisor or senior officer may request MFD Personnel to leave the crime scene/accident scene intact during a prolonged investigation of the crime/accident scene.

The MPD on-scene supervisor or senior officer shall contact the MFD via MECC to make necessary arrangements for calling MFD personnel back to the scene to remove medical debris, blood, or body fluids upon completion of the investigation.

A police officer shall remain on the scene for security purposes until MFD personnel completely remove the medical debris, blood or body fluids.

• Body Fluids: Body fluids include but are not limited to blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, amniotic fluid, urine, saliva, vomit and stool.
• Investigation: A structured process of gathering, examining, and evaluating facts and evidence to determine what occurred, assess compliance with laws and policies, and support appropriate actions or decisions.
• MECC: Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center is the city's 911 center that answers emergency and non-emergency calls and coordinates the appropriate response by public safety services.