Next of kin notification bill will go to state lawmakers for a vote

HARTFORD — A key committee on Tuesday passed a bill that requires police to notify next of kin within 24 hours after a relative is found dead.

The legislation grew out of two instances in Bridgeport in which families said police failed to notify them about the death of a loved one.

“This is a bill I wish we did not have to have before us but unfortunately we do,” said state Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport and cochairman of the judiciary committee.

“This arises out of two situations in m yho metown of Bridgeport and situations around the state,” Stafstrom said. “A family was left wondering what happened to their loved one. I hope we can provide some solace and framework coming out of a couple of tragic events in our state.”

The full Legislature will now have a chance to vote on the bill's passage. The legislation requires police who encounter “a deceased person or the remains of a person” to ensure that their next of kin are notified within 24 hours of identification of the body.

The law also requires police to document why the deadline was not met. A serious violation of the mandate could be reported to the state's Office of Inspector General, which is empowered to censure or suspend the responsible officer or revoke an officer's certification to work in law enforcement.

The impetus for the bill is the unrelated deaths of two Bridgeport residents on Dec. 12, 2021, both of whom were found by police. Lauren Smith-Fields, 23, died from an accidental overdose while 53-year old Brenda Lee Rawls died of natural causes.

In both cases, families of the deceased said police never notified them of their family member's death.

Two Bridgeport detectives who initially investigated the deaths were suspended and are under investigation for alleged violations of the department's next of kin notification policy, which requires that notifications be “carried out promptly and in a considerate matter.”

Family members of the deceased women have been outspoken in their criticism of city police.

“The way that my daughter's death was handled was simply an atrocity,” Everett Smith, the father of Lauren Smith-Fields, told lawmakers during a public hearing earlier this month.

“At first it was surreal,” Smith said. “I couldn't believe it. And today it's still surreal.”

Committee members on Tuesday voted 27-2 to move the bill onto the House. Another 10 members had until 5 p.m. to cast their vote, although the bill would still move out

of committee even if they all voted against the legislation.

State Rep. Greg Howard, R-Stonington, said it’s important for police to quickly notify family when a relative is found dead.

“There are a lot of moving parts that are put on the backs on an investigating officer,” Howard said. “I always hesitate to add additional stress and responsibility onto an officer but the responsibility to notify next of kin in the event of a death has always been there or should have been there.”

State Rep. Kimberly Fiorello, R-Greenwich, said she was voting against the bill because lawmakers have placed enough restrictions on police officers.

“This body has shown an ability to micromanage police,” Fiorello said, referring to recent laws designed to increase police accountability.

“We are asking for a level of high professionalism from them and most times they exhibit it,” Fiorello said. “We as lawmakers also have to exercise restraint. In any profession there are those who mar the reputations of the group, but I believe our law enforcement deserve to have some faith from us.”

State Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, said he was voting for the bill because it’s the right thing to do.

“When a loved one is lost and a life is changed, we know the impact it has on them for years,” Winfield said. “So, for me, this not about the type of efforts around police accountability.”