Mother: Omaha police 'left me a voice mail' about son's death in traffic accident
Judie Howell was 'shocked' by message, has filed a complaint
By Joe Ruff
The Associated Press
OMAHA -- Judie Howell says she learned her son was killed in a traffic accident from a telephone message left by police at her home.
"They left me a voice mail," Howell said about how she was notified of the June 26 death of her 34-year-old son, Bobby.
In the message, an Omaha police officer said Howell's son had been killed in a car accident in nearby Cass County and his body was sent to a funeral home in Plattsmouth, Howell said.
The officer said he would call the Cass County Sheriff's office and let deputies there know that Howell's family had been notified, she said.
Howell said she was shocked by the message, then angry. She has filed a complaint with the Omaha Police Department.
"I want to see that police officer reprimanded and I want some kind of training in that program so that it will never, ever happen again," she said Thursday.
Officer Cathy Martinec, a police spokeswoman, said the matter was being investigated.
Under the department's standard operating procedures, notification should be made in person by a uniformed officer and one other person, Martinec said. When telling family members of a death, information should come clearly, slowly and officers should be able to answer any questions.
"The survivor will remember the words of notification for the rest of their life," Martinec quoted from the police manual.
If a survivor cannot be located, a message must be left either at a residence or a place of business asking them to contact police as soon as possible.
Howell heard the message on the day of the accident while checking her home voice mail from her work as a secretary and office manager at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.
Lt. Tim Cavanaugh, commander of the internal affairs unit, sent a letter of apology to Howell.
"On behalf of the Omaha Police Department, I again want to express my sympathy for the loss of your son and regret for the message left on your answering machine," Cavanaugh wrote.
When reached Thursday, Cavanaugh declined to further comment.
The accident that killed Howell's son happened just north of Plattsmouth but Omaha police were called to help notify the victim's relatives, said James Martin Davis, an attorney helping Howell with the police complaint.
Howell's son was killed when another car ran a red light at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and Nebraska Highway 66 on the morning of June 26.
:nono:
Judie Howell was 'shocked' by message, has filed a complaint
By Joe Ruff
The Associated Press
OMAHA -- Judie Howell says she learned her son was killed in a traffic accident from a telephone message left by police at her home.
"They left me a voice mail," Howell said about how she was notified of the June 26 death of her 34-year-old son, Bobby.
In the message, an Omaha police officer said Howell's son had been killed in a car accident in nearby Cass County and his body was sent to a funeral home in Plattsmouth, Howell said.
The officer said he would call the Cass County Sheriff's office and let deputies there know that Howell's family had been notified, she said.
Howell said she was shocked by the message, then angry. She has filed a complaint with the Omaha Police Department.
"I want to see that police officer reprimanded and I want some kind of training in that program so that it will never, ever happen again," she said Thursday.
Officer Cathy Martinec, a police spokeswoman, said the matter was being investigated.
Under the department's standard operating procedures, notification should be made in person by a uniformed officer and one other person, Martinec said. When telling family members of a death, information should come clearly, slowly and officers should be able to answer any questions.
"The survivor will remember the words of notification for the rest of their life," Martinec quoted from the police manual.
If a survivor cannot be located, a message must be left either at a residence or a place of business asking them to contact police as soon as possible.
Howell heard the message on the day of the accident while checking her home voice mail from her work as a secretary and office manager at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.
Lt. Tim Cavanaugh, commander of the internal affairs unit, sent a letter of apology to Howell.
"On behalf of the Omaha Police Department, I again want to express my sympathy for the loss of your son and regret for the message left on your answering machine," Cavanaugh wrote.
When reached Thursday, Cavanaugh declined to further comment.
The accident that killed Howell's son happened just north of Plattsmouth but Omaha police were called to help notify the victim's relatives, said James Martin Davis, an attorney helping Howell with the police complaint.
Howell's son was killed when another car ran a red light at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and Nebraska Highway 66 on the morning of June 26.
:nono:
