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Newport News Police Department - Administrative Manual
ADM-161 - LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY & HEARING
IMPAIRMENT COMMUNICATION
Amends/Supersedes: NEW Date of Issue: 05/15/2023
I. GENERAL
A. The Newport News Police Department provides access to law enforcement services regardless of a
person’s communication ability. According to U.S. Census data, approximately 6% of Newport News
households report limited proficiency with English, and approximately 3% of the population reported
a hearing impairment. A reduced ability to communicate with individuals needing law enforcement
services can significantly negatively impact investigations and overall public safety.
B. Department members will take reasonable steps to effectively communicate with members of the
public, which may require interpretation for people who have difficulty speaking, understanding, or
writing in English and those who are hearing or speech impaired.
C. As the department cannot maintain in-person interpreters at all times for those with limited English
proficiency or hearing/speech impairments, NNPD will take reasonable steps to make such services
available to employees through a contracted vendor or State-approved service. The Communications
Division maintains technology and directives to address procedures specific to the 911 Center (see
COM-315 Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) and COM-330 Over the Telephone
Language Interpretation Service).
II. PROCEDURES
A. Interpretation Services
1. When an employee encounters an individual with limited English proficiency and is unable to
communicate in the language spoken, they will identify the language spoken either phonetically
or by asking the person to select the language from a language identification guide or flyer.
2. When an employee encounters a deaf or hard-of-hearing individual, the employee will first try to
communicate in writing to determine the appropriate language.
3. If an employee fluent in the language needed is available, they may act as an interpreter. Non-
sworn employees will not respond to an active scene unless the scene commander approves.
4. Friends, family, and bystanders should not serve as interpreters except to provide basic information
during emergencies. Once a situation stabilizes and basic information is obtained, officers will
transition to an employee or contracted interpreter. Non-law enforcement interpreters, such as
advocates, attorneys, clinicians, or other professional support services, may serve as interpreters
so long as there are no conflicts of interest, confidentiality issues, or risk of compromising an
investigation.
5. If an employee interpreter is unavailable or a non-law enforcement interpreter is inappropriate,
employees will utilize the contracted service provider for over-the-phone interpretation and, if
needed, remote video interpretation with American Sign Language.
6. If the contracted service provider is unable to provide services, officers may utilize their City
issued phone to access a translation app. In these circumstances, officers should not conduct
detailed interviews. They should collect basic information and conduct a more extensive interview
with an interpreter as soon as possible. If the case is likely assigned to an investigator, the officer
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