In most cases, a line-of-duty death is both violent and totally unexpected. Under difficult circumstances, it is hard for family members to make rational decisions about the many details with which they are faced. Therefore, police departments should complete a form that provides essential information to help the family. Major topics that should be addressed on this form include family information, life support decision, death notification, funeral arrangements, personal requests, and personal effects. Police departments should also develop a plan for responding to a particular crisis, one that includes details on steps to be taken at each juncture of the crisis. Because the grief process is an intensely personal experience for each individual, police officers should be understanding, compassionate, and supportive and be available to help the family. On occasions when the pain of losing a loved one is likely to recur, such as on birthdays and holidays, police departments should make every effort to extend support and comfort to the family. Appendixes contain a suggested information form to fill out in line-of-duty deaths, a brief description of the Family Survivors Program of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and the American Federation of Police, Federal and State benefits available to eligible survivors of police officers killed in the line of duty, and information on the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum and State memorials. 26 photographs