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OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) -- Police have apologized to a woman who learned her son was killed in a traffic accident from a voice mail message an officer left on her telephone.
"I want to see that police officer reprimanded and I want some kind of training in that program so that it will never, ever happen again," said Judie Howell, whose 34-year-old son, Bobby, was killed June 26 in a Cass County car accident.
Howell said an Omaha police officer left her a message telling her about the accident and that her son's body was sent to a funeral home in Plattsmouth. She filed a complaint with the Omaha Police Department.
Lt. Tim Cavanaugh, commander of the internal affairs unit, sent a letter of apology to Howell.
"On behalf of the Omaha Police Department, I again want to express my sympathy for the loss of your son and regret for the message left on your answering machine," Cavanaugh wrote.
When reached Thursday, Cavanaugh declined to further comment. Officer Cathy Martinec, a police spokeswoman, said the matter was being investigated.
Under standard department procedures, notification should be made in person by a uniformed officer and one other person, Martinec said. If a survivor cannot be located, a message must be left either at a residence or a place of business asking them to contact police as soon as possible.
"I want to see that police officer reprimanded and I want some kind of training in that program so that it will never, ever happen again," said Judie Howell, whose 34-year-old son, Bobby, was killed June 26 in a Cass County car accident.
Howell said an Omaha police officer left her a message telling her about the accident and that her son's body was sent to a funeral home in Plattsmouth. She filed a complaint with the Omaha Police Department.
Lt. Tim Cavanaugh, commander of the internal affairs unit, sent a letter of apology to Howell.
"On behalf of the Omaha Police Department, I again want to express my sympathy for the loss of your son and regret for the message left on your answering machine," Cavanaugh wrote.
When reached Thursday, Cavanaugh declined to further comment. Officer Cathy Martinec, a police spokeswoman, said the matter was being investigated.
Under standard department procedures, notification should be made in person by a uniformed officer and one other person, Martinec said. If a survivor cannot be located, a message must be left either at a residence or a place of business asking them to contact police as soon as possible.
I thought it was absurd that this was the top story on our local news tonight, so imagine my surprise when I saw it on the front page of CNN International. Isn't there any real news happening? Even if there isn't any real news, is this really the best thing they could scrounge up to kill airtime with? I don't even care about this and I live in the area.
@ insensitive police officers.
[/nebraskan mode]
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