CT family welcomes vote on notification bill

As the state House voted unanimously Wednesday to require police to notify the families of deceased relatives within 24 hours, the family of Lauren SmithFields, whose death inspired the legislation, looked on with tears in their eyes.

Lauren Smith-Fields’ parents and brother embraced and took pictures of the tally board lit up green — signifying the 149 yes votes in the chamber.

“It will help us sleep a little better at night,” said Shantell Fields, Lauren’s mother, who wore a necklace with a framed picture of her daughter.

The legislation was prompted by the Dec. 12, 2021 unrelated deaths of the 23-year-old Smith-Fields, who died of an accidental overdose, and 53-year-old Brenda Lee Rawls from natural causes and the failure of Bridgeport police to notify their families in a timely manner.

State Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, cochairman of the Judiciary Committee, stood within feet of the Smith-Fields family while leading the brief debate that led to the unanimous vote. The measure next goes to the Senate.

Stafstrom recounted how Lauren Smith-Fields’ mother, unable to reach the young woman by phone, went to her Bridgeport apartment, where she saw a note on the door suggesting people call a number. “Her daughter’s landlord told her that her 23-year-old daughter had died,” Stafstrom said. The same night, Rawls’ family located her body in the custody of a medical examiner.

“Bridgeport made absolutely the worst possible national news as a result of those instances and deserves every level of admonishment of the police department in their conduct with those families imaginable,” Stafstrom said, adding that there were similar incidents in New Haven and other parts of the state.

Since Monday, when the Public Safety had mixed feelings about the legislation, the bill was reworked to give police in towns where next-of-kin reside some flexibility in notifying a relative of the deceased within 24 hours.

“If they are unable to do so because of extenuating circumstances, all they have to do is document their failure to do so,” Stafstrom said. “If they want to request help from a neighboring police department in notifying the family in person, they should and we encourage them to, and that would satisfy the requirements of this bill.”

Lauren Smith-Fields’ dad, Everett Smith, said the bill “sends a message” to police dealing with this type of tragedy “to extend themselves in a professional manner and show sympathy” — and that they will be held accountable if they don’t.

Her parents described their daughter as their pride and joy — “a daddy’s girl” who loved spending time with her friends and family.

“She was the sweetest, funniest girl you could ever meet,” her mother said.