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Newport News Police Department
2. Employees must submit a ticket to the department’s IT unit immediately, if their city issued cell
phone is missing, lost or stolen. Upon receipt of the ticket, IT will take action to attempt to locate or
disable the line.
3. Motor Vehicle Operation - Employees are cautioned against making cell phone calls while operating
a motor vehicle. It is recommended that employees pull over to a safe location to use any cell phone,
whether issued or personal. While §46.2-818.2 of the Code of Virginia does not prohibit emergency
vehicle operators from using their cell phone when performing official duties, such usage contributes
to unsafe operation or a vehicle crash. Text messaging, or other distracted driving activities that
result in a vehicular crash will be documented in the vehicle crash investigation (see OPS-330 Traffic
Crash Investigations) and may result in disciplinary proceedings (see ADM-250 Police Vehicle Crash
Review).
4. Employees are prohibited from using wirelessly connected earpieces (i.e. Bluetooth devices) while
on duty, unless the use is authorized by a supervisor for a job related purpose.
5. All usage requirements of ADM-540 Agency Computer & Information Technology Usage regarding
internet use, emails, software applications, games, and security apply to the use of department issued
cell phones.
6. Employees may use their department issued cell phone camera to capture images and recordings,
both audio and video, related to criminal investigations. All images and recordings must be
downloaded from the phone and transferred to both the DataWorks Digital Crime Scene System, per
OPS-485 Property & Evidence. If the digital file type is compatible, it should also be attached to the
report in the records management system.
B. Personal Use
1. Employees are not required to reimburse the City of Newport News for personal use of department-
issued cell phones; however, employees shall remain cognizant of all privacy and time management
concerns and shall act in accordance with this policy and PAM-1403 Use of Information Technology
Policy.
2. Employees shall not use their department-issued cell phone to text, post to social media, or e-mail
photographs or other information relating to investigations, or other department business, for
unofficial purposes.
C. Abuse of Privileges
Employee abuse of cell phone privileges will be reported to the employee’s supervisor and chain of
command and may result in disciplinary action.
D. Personal Cell Phones - Employees will not use any personally owned cell phone for department business
regarding documenting evidence or taking investigation-related photos. [83.2.2(d)]
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