WilbertEDU® Webinar Discusses First Responder Funerals
Line of Duty Death: Funeral Honors & Protocols
Overland Park, KS – When a police officer is killed in the line of duty, the confusion and range of emotions can often be overwhelming. There can also be a lack of understanding for properly and honorably coordinating a line of duty funeral. Line of duty funerals can look like that of a U.S. Military or a State Funeral. Unlike the military, however, funerals involving first responders can fall into a gray area and are subject to a myriad of traditions, beliefs, and misunderstandings. The webinar will be held July 21, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. CST.
In this presentation entitled Line of Duty Death: Funeral Honors & Protocols, Daniel Foley will provide insight into planning a full honors line of duty funeral and will offer suggestions for reinforcing the standards and protocols that should be followed.
- Why we honor and how we should honor? Defining and separating the grade levels of funerals and a starting point when a death occurs.
- Timeline notification, defining Line of Duty Death, the role of the Funeral Director, and what to expect during a full honors funeral.
- Planning the formalities of a Line of Duty Death funeral, protocols, and logistics,
“In State / In Honor / In Repose”, flag laws & flag etiquette.
- Preparing your funeral home for the viewing and what to expect.
- The ceremonial order of service of the funeral.
- Suggestions for the Funeral Director for coordinating a Line of Duty Funeral
This program is certified with the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP) for one (1) hour of continuing education*.
Register today at www.wilbert.com/wilbertedu
*CEU Credits not currently approved in Alabama, Georgia, and New York
About the Presenter: Daniel Foley served with the Wyandotte, MI Police Department for 27 years and retired from active-duty service in December 2011. During this time, he was assigned to the Patrol Division and Special Operations Unit assisting local, county, state, and federal units in various capacities, including surveillance, narcotics investigations, and search warrants. Dan continued to develop the department’s first K9 program, instituting all policies and protocol for handling, training, and the deployment of K9s. Shortly after being sworn in with Wyandotte PD, Dan applied was accepted to the department’s honor guard unit, representing the agency and the law enforcement profession at all formal functions and soon became unit commander. He has received extensive ceremonial training from both the 3rd U.S. Infantry Division at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as the U.S. Air Force Base Honor Guard Certification Program. He has been a primary instructor for the Goshen, Indiana Honor Guard Training Program and DFL Honor Guard Training, where he instructed numerous Law Enforcement and Fire Agencies from across the country for over 15 years. Dan has been instrumental in the development of many honor guard units in Michigan, their training and development, and has provided logistical consultation for funerals, ceremonial protocol, and other formal events. Currently serving on the State of Michigan SMMART Team (Sheriff’s and Municipal Memorial Assistance Response Team), Dan is a memorial affairs and training coordinator responsible for coordinating all ceremonial training, as well as line of duty death funerals. Dan has been recognized, both locally and nationally, for his ceremonial proficiency and expertise due to the coordination of numerous funerals and memorial services. He presently serves with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Bureau of Justice in Washington D.C. where he consults on the current increase in law enforcement and First Responder suicides, and the appropriate ceremonial and funeral protocol for agencies experiencing such a loss.
About WilbertEDU: Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. supports funeral professionals seeking CEU hours with a complimentary online program called WilbertEDU. Launched in November 2020, WilbertEDU has featured dozens of presenters, all accomplished funeral professionals, and entrepreneurs, providing insight on a wide variety of deathcare topics. Nine sessions have already been presented by WilbertEDU in 2022. Participants have expressed their appreciation for the many industry-related topics including professional and staff development, embalming, children and death, cremation, cemetery development, legal and ethical issues, and many others, all from the comfort and convenience of their own homes and offices.
