“You’ll never get it out of your head”

Abstract

Law enforcement officials are an integral part of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) investigations, yet their experiences have been largely unexamined. In this qualitative study, the lived experiences of law enforcement officials in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States were explored to better understand emotional burdens and other sources of discomfort during SUID investigations. Semi-structured interviews (N = 26) revealed four interrelated tensions experienced by law enforcement: 1) infrequent SUID occurrence limits development of investigator experience; 2) unique victim characteristics render SUID investigations particularly high-stakes; 3) the ambiguous scene and body findings of SUIDs create role conflict; 4) SUIDs provoke intense emotions that challenge professional detachment. While each of these tensions may be encountered in the performance of other law enforcement duties, they compound in SUID investigations to create a uniquely challenging experience. We conclude with practical recommendations for improving supports to law enforcement during SUID investigations.