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Newport News Police Department
OPERATIONAL MANUAL
OPS-430 – DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE & STALKING CASES
Amends/Supersedes: OPS-430 (04/08/2024) Date of Issue: 04/13/2026
I. GENERAL
A. The Newport News Police Department shall investigate all allegations of domestic violence or stalking
and arrest those persons who have been identified as committing those acts.
B. When responding to either situation, all officers shall provide the victim with information regarding
available support services within the community. [55.1.1(a); 55.2.3(a)]
C. The definition and/or meaning of the following terms are found in the following sections of the Code of
Virginia:
1. Family abuse: §16.1-228
2. Stalking: §18.2-60.3
3. Family or household member: §16.1-228
4. Acts of violence, force or threat: §19.2-152.7:1
5. Protective Orders
a. Cases of Domestic Disturbance
1) Protective order: §16.1-279.1
2) Preliminary protective order: §16.1-253.1
3) Emergency protective order: §16.1-253.4
b. Acts Involving Violence, Force or Threat
1) Protective order: §19.2-152.10
2) Preliminary protective order: §19.2-152.9
3) Emergency protective order: §19.2-152.8
6. Lethality Assessment Protocol (L.A.P.) – A series of questions used in the to field assess a victim of
intimate partner violence for their risk of being killed by that partner and provide
appropriate referrals.
II. PRELIMINARY PROCEDURES
On-Scene Investigation:
A. If an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that an assault and battery against a family or household
member has occurred, the officer shall take the following actions:
1. Secure the scene and render medical aid as necessary. [42.2.1(a)]
2. Confirm a crime has been committed and attempt to identify the suspect(s). [42.2.1(a)]
3. Identify and interview all witnesses and obtain their names, addresses, and telephone numbers.
[42.2.1(b)]
4. Collect and preserve all evidence, which may include: (See OPS-485 Property and Evidence) [42.2.1(c)]
a. Photographs.
b. Broken fingernails.
c. Hair.
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