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Newport News Police Department
OPERATIONAL MANUAL
OPS - 407 – SERVICE OF WARRANTS
Amends/Supersedes: OPS-407 (09/09/2024) Date of Issue: 12/29/2025
I. POLICY
A. The Newport News Police Department keeps accurate warrant information in files and databases. The
Department Records Unit has a special VCIN Unit that ensures information is current and helps officers
with warrant service 24/7. Specific VCIN Unit members are assigned to the Warrant Unit, which handles
warrants obtained by department personnel, warrants issued with a non-expired emergency protection
order and warrants for subjects already in custody.
B. According to §19.2-80 of the Code of Virginia, if an officer does not issue a summons under §19.2-74 or
§46.2-936, the officer must bring the arrested person before a judicial officer without unnecessary delay.
C. Only sworn personnel will execute arrest warrants. [74.3.2]
D. Procedures for warrantless arrests, including the issuance of summonses, are in OPS-405 Arrest
Procedures.
E. OPS-480 Search Warrants contains procedures for obtaining a search warrant for a subject with an
outstanding warrant (§19.2-53 of the Code of Virginia).
F. Officers shall not receive, solicit, or accept any fee or other compensation for executing a criminal process
other than the salary or expense reimbursement paid by the City.
II. PROCEDURES
A. The department has priority designations for arrest warrant service.
1. Priority 1: Highest priority. Warrants should be served as soon as possible for:
a. All felony class, class 1 and class 2 misdemeanor warrants of a violent nature where imminent
danger to the victim or others is present.
b. Warrants issued by the Magistrate, who believes that the threat of violence is still imminent, and
where the service of the warrant would end the conflict or prevent it from escalating.
c. Warrants issued by the on-duty Magistrate requesting immediate service. If the Magistrate
notifies the VCIN Unit that the warrant needs to be served, VCIN Unit personnel will contact the
Communications Division to notify an officer in the area of the address specified on the warrant.
The assigned officer must make an immediate attempt to serve the warrant. Any delay in service
requires the authority of the on-duty field supervisor.
2. Priority 2: All other types of warrants, processed through normal procedures when there is no
imminent threat to safety.
B. Execution of Warrants
1. When making an arrest based on any warrant or other legal service:
a. Verify that the person named in the legal document is the person being detained, using:
1) Photo identification.
2) Driver’s license.
3) Identification by social security number.
4) Fingerprints compared to known fingerprints of the person named in the arresting
document.
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