I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. The department shall establish a standard procedure for the official participation of the Hawaii Police Department in funeral ceremonies for its members and employees. Official ceremonies will be held at the funeral of a deceased member who was on active duty or retired from service. Participation will be only after approval has been received from an immediate family member.

B. The Major of the Administrative Division shall be in charge of all arrangements for departmental participation. The Major shall discharge this responsibility in cooperation with the commanding officer of the deceased who was on active duty, or with the family of the deceased who was retired from service.

The Major will cause the family information to be published on the Daily Police Bulletin:

___________________________________________________________

The department regrets to announce that

Sergeant Joseph Smith

of the __________________ District

Died in the Line of Duty on

July 31, 1990, at 9:45 p.m.

or

Passed away at 9:45 p.m. on July 31, 1990

Announcements regarding services will follow.

___________________________________________________________

C. The final determination as to the extent of department honors accorded shall be at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

II. EXTENT OF PARTICIPATION

A. Funeral honors will be accorded to the following deceased active duty or retired personnel or as otherwise specified:

1. All active and retired police officers;

2. Reserve police officers on active duty;

3. Regular civilian employees currently employed by the department or retired from service;

4. A current member of the Hawaii Police Commission.

B. Funeral Ceremonies

1. "Full Honors" Ceremonies shall be extended to any employee killed in the line of duty. Departmental participation will consist of two honor guards, pallbearers and police motorcade.

2. "Full Dress" Ceremonies shall be extended to all active or retired police officers, active reserve police officers and regular civilian employees. Departmental participation will consist of providing one honor guard, pallbearers and a police escort.

C. Honor Guards

The honor guards will be assigned by the last commanding officer and may consist of as many officers as needed. They shall be attired in full uniform with white gloves. Keys, whistles, flashlights, batons and any item which protrudes from the pockets shall be omitted.

D. Pallbearers

1. There shall be six pallbearers assigned by the commanding officer and whenever practicable, they shall be selected from the organizational element to which the decedent was formerly assigned.

2. When the decedent was a police officer, the pallbearers shall, whenever possible, be of the same rank. The uniform will be the same as the honor guards.

3. If the decedent was a civilian, the pallbearers may consist of civilians or police officers or a combination of both. The attire shall be the appropriate civilian clothing.

III. CEREMONIAL PROCEDURES

A. At the funeral home, the two honor guards shall be assigned to their post at the bier, one at the head and one at the foot of the casket, in the "parade rest" position. If one honor guard, his post shall be at the head of the casket. The commanding officer will provide for relief and the posting of the guards at the bier in whatever manner is deemed appropriate for that particular funeral home or church.

B. The honor guard post at the bier should be maintained until the services or other appropriate ceremonies have been completed. There should not be any changing of the guards during the services or ceremonies. This procedure may be altered by the commanding officer to conform to the general pattern of the ceremony or services.

C. Upon termination of the religious services or other appropriate ceremonies, the commanding officer will assign the honor guards and other officers as necessary to form two parallel ranks from the building to the hearse while providing an avenue through which the casket and pallbearers will pass. A variation of this formation may be necessary due to the availability of maneuvering space.

D. As the casket and pallbearers leave the building, the commanding officer will give the command of, "Detail, attention!" This will be followed by the command, "Present arms!" The salute will be held until the casket has been placed aboard the hearse. The "Order arms" command will then be given at which time the right hand shall be brought smartly to the side from the salute and the position of attention resumed. The detail will then be dismissed from formation to join the funeral procession.

E. At the church, the detail will form two parallel ranks extending from the hearse to provide an avenue through which the casket and pallbearers will pass. Prior to the casket being removed from the hearse, the detail will be brought to attention.

As the casket is removed, the commanding officer shall give the command, "Present arms," and the salute will be held until the casket has been borne to the front entrance of the church. The commander will then give the command, "Order arms!" The detail will then be dismissed for the religious services.

F. Upon completion of the religious service, the detail will leave the church and form two parallel ranks extending from the hearse, providing an avenue through which the casket and pallbearers will pass. "Present arms" will again be executed, adopting the same procedure as that when departing from the funeral home. Once the casket has been placed aboard the hearse, the detail will be dismissed to join the funeral procession.

G. At the cemetery, the honor guards will be reformed and marched to the head of the place of interment (perpendicular to the grave). They will remain at attention until the graveside ceremonies are complete and the final salute has been given.

H. The commanding officer may assign other officers to form a parallel or single file rank from the hearse to the place of internment depending on the availability of sufficient uniformed officers and the distance. If such is the case, as the marching procession begins to escort the casket, the command of "Present arms" will be given followed by "Order arms" when the casket reaches the place of internment. The file members may then join the graveside ceremonies.

IV. VARIATIONS

Variations may be necessary due to the locale, limited space or other circumstances. The commanding officer may make the necessary adjustments but shall adhere to the aforementioned procedures as much as possible.

V. SPECIAL FUNERAL HONORS

Any additional or special honors to be accorded shall be at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

VICTOR V. VIERRA
CHIEF OF POLICE

(Amended: 11-01-90)