The shooting death of Terence Crutcher by Tulsa Police is sparking outrage across the country.
Dash-cam video shows Crutcher bled on the street for at least two minutes before officers on scene provided medical attention. The officer involved in the shooting is now being charged with manslaughter.
On Thursday, 41 Action News checked in with other local police agencies to find out what their policy is for rendering medical attention to an injured suspect. One of the few that has no policy in place is the Kansas City Kansas Police Department.
“If we train our officers to be able to render medical attention and they did something wrong we do open ourselves up for huge liability,” said Police Chief Terry Zeigler.
He says police call an EMT as soon as a suspect is shot but do not help while waiting for the EMT to arrive. Chief Zeigler told 41 ActionNews police receive no EMS training, including no training on CPR. He says the funds are not in place to do so, and says the officer's main goal is to eliminate a threat and preserve the crime scene.
Other police agencies in the Kansas City metro are trained to render medical attention, including the Kansas City Police Department. On August 31, Chief Forte wrote in a blog post “Our officers are being instructed to provide emergency first aid to anyone injured by police use of force”.
Some departments even have their policies in writing, including the Overland Park Police Department. Their policy states:
After an officer uses Lethal Force or discharges a Firearm either intentionally or accidentally,when the tactical situation permits and there is a reasonable belief it is safe to do so, the officer will:
•Check the physical condition of any injured person and render first aid when appropriate
•Request necessary emergency medical aid
The Independence Police Department also has a policy in writing which states:
"Upon striking a subject with less lethal impact munitions, emergency services will be rendered.”
They say the same goes for serious injuries as well.
The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office does not have anything in writing but says they do try to assist a person that has been shot by one of their own.
“As far as rendering aid, that is our duty and that is a duty or the sheriff’s department is to serve and protect our community we are not a judge and a jury,” said Lt. Kelli Bailiff with the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office.
Lt. Bailiff says it’s common sense among deputies in the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office to help someone in need no matter the circumstance.
“They have been trained on how to respond and they are ethically going to respond in the way that they have been trained and that is to render aid,” said Lt. Bailiff.
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