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Newport News Police Department
a. Dispatch to a call for service requiring a field response.
b. Any enforcement action or investigative detention. (vehicle stop, pedestrian stop, detention,
show-up, custodial arrest, suspect interactions, etc.).
c. Consensual encounters with the public related to a law enforcement incident or action, including
interviews with witnesses, victims, and reporting parties.
d. Any de-escalation or use of force activities.
e. Any vehicle or foot pursuits.
f. When conducting field sobriety tests.
g. Detainee or prisoner transport. Termination during transport is prohibited. Officers can turn the
device to the rear compartment of the police unit to record the prisoner's activities and the audio.
h. Warrant service (see OPS-407 Service of Warrant and OPS-480 Search Warrants).
2. Officers shall place the body-worn camera in the event mode upon dispatch to a call for service or
engaging in police action. For officer-initiated actions or any situation with the potential to become a
law enforcement action, the officer shall place the body-worn camera in event mode as soon as
practical at the onset of a given situation. Officers responding in a backup or support capacity shall
place the body-worn camera in event mode when they initiate their response.
3. Once the event mode has been activated, officers shall continue to record until the completion of the
event or until they have left the scene. Unless otherwise indicated in this policy, activities that must
be recorded include field interviews, searches, evidence collection, prisoner interactions including
transports, traffic direction, pursuits, etc.
4. Investigations Assignments
a. Detectives are expected to maintain their body-worn camera in a state of operational readiness
and have it available even when they are working a plainclothes assignment.
b. When responding to an investigation, detectives are encouraged to utilize their body-worn
cameras whenever doing so will aid in their investigation. Wearing a body-worn camera on the
scene is not required, mainly when uniformed officers are on the scene with activated cameras.
c. When conducting interviews in the field, detectives may opt to record interviews on the
department-issued phone or other issued recording devices if such use is more appropriate for
the circumstances than the body-worn camera.
5. School Resource Officers
School resources officers are required to wear their body-worn cameras when inside schools.
Activation of the camera is prohibited unless suspected criminal activity or the potential for
disruptive behavior is present.
6. Tactical Operations Unit
When engaging in tactical deployments, officers should utilize helmet-mounted cameras whenever
possible.
7. Secondary Employment
a. Officers working secondary employment assignments are required to wear their issued body-
worn cameras.
b. Officers are not required to activate their body-worn cameras when engaging in activities such
as traffic direction or non-law enforcement encounters during secondary employment; however,
they may use their discretion to record necessary interactions and events.
c. Activation is required whenever encounters or circumstances require an officer to take
enforcement action.
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