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Newport News Police Department
f. The escort shall proceed with the appropriate police vehicles in the assigned positions designated
by the Special Operations supervisor who approved and scheduled the move. Larger, more
complicated moves may require an Operations Plan and a formal briefing prior to the escort at
the discretion of the Special Operations supervisor. Escorts will utilize appropriate safety
equipment, including traffic vests, lighted wands or flashlights, vehicle emergency lights and
sirens when appropriate.
g. The escort shall move at a speed that the officers and the driver of the load determine to be safe,
considering the nature of the load, permit restrictions, traffic, and weather conditions.
h. Officers will utilize the appropriate Special Operations radio channel for whichever precinct the
move originates in (Specops). A 10-3 should be called on the channel for the duration of the escort
to allow the escorting officers to communicate safely and efficiently. Communications should be
advised of the escort and the 10-3. For complicated moves with an Operations Plan, a copy of the
plan should be sent to dispatch for awareness purposes.
3. Hazardous Materials Escorts
The department provides escorts for hazardous materials after being notified by the Fire Marshal’s
Office of the need for such an escort. Any organization contacting the department for this type of
escort shall be advised to contact the City Fire Marshal first. Upon request of the Fire Marshal, the
department will follow the following procedures in a hazardous materials escort:
a. The shift supervisor notified shall assign officers to the escort duty and advise them of the date,
time, destination of the escort, and nature of the materials being carried, along with any
emergency information needed in the event of a possible accident.
b. The watch supervisor shall coordinate with the Fire Marshal the presence of the Fire
Department’s HAZMAT team during the escort. Escort officers shall ascertain the presence of the
HAZMAT team before beginning the escort.
c. One marked police unit equipped with emergency lights and a siren shall serve as a lead unit, and
a second similarly equipped unit shall serve as a follow-up unit. The officers and the escort shall
coordinate the distance between the police units and the escorted material and the rate of travel
before departure.
d. In the event of an accident, the escort officers shall assist the HAZMAT team in controlling traffic
and in evacuation procedures if the HAZMAT team deems them necessary.
e. Upon completion of the escort, the officers shall notify the Communications Division and resume
their normally assigned duties.
4. Parades
Units assisting with the movements of a parade involving either mobile units or marching units must:
a. Utilize the vehicle’s emergency equipment, when appropriate.
b. Have a marked police unit lead the parade to ensure the safety of the community along the parade
route and the participating parade units.
c. Utilize the police unit’s emergency equipment when the officer feels it is necessary for safety
reasons.
d. Maintain a slow, steady pace, keeping the parade units moving. This pace shall be coordinated
with parade sponsors or marshals before the start of the parade.
e. Provide motorcycle units that continuously move along the parade route to maintain a safety
zone between parade units and the observers.
f. Have a marked police unit or police aide serve as a follow-up vehicle behind the last parade unit.
This police unit shall keep all other units informed about the parade's progress.
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