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Newport News Police Department
e. Be available for official interviews and statements regarding the incident. Employees are
responsible for complying with all immediate, preliminary and follow-up investigative questions
as related to incident witnesses, either from criminal or administrative investigators. This is a
condition of employment.
f. If witness employees become the focus of a criminal investigation, their status becomes that of
an involved employee.
3. Responding officer(s)
Responding officers assigned a duty at the scene of an incident will focus full attention on that duty
or assignment until a supervisor relieves them. Once relieved, they will clear the scene and return to
their normally assigned area and duties. If requested by investigators, they shall provide a written
report or statement concerning their actions/observations at the scene of the incident. Officers not
dispatched or assigned to the scene will continue with normal assignments and will not respond to
the scene.
4. Support employee(s) shall:
a. Accompany the involved employee (i.e., to precinct, headquarters or the hospital), remaining
with them until properly relieved.
b. Act as a calming influence and monitor the affected employee for signs of possible critical incident
stress or trauma. If signs of trauma or shock are evident, immediately summon appropriate medical
assistance and notify the on-scene supervisor.
c. Ensure they do not:
1) Interfere with the preliminary investigation in any manner.
2) Discuss the facts or specifics of the incident with the involved employee; or
3) Make any statements that infringe on the privacy of the involved employee or jeopardize the
criminal investigation.
5. Initial responding on-duty patrol supervisor shall:
a. Evaluate the situation, speak with other persons present (sworn and non-sworn) and, only if
necessary, obtain a brief description of what occurred from the involved employee(s), unless the
employee(s) are physically incapacitated and unable to do so.
1) It is the supervisor’s responsibility to determine if it is necessary to obtain a brief statement
of facts from the involved employee.
2) The statement will only be required when necessary to:
a) Obtain pertinent incident facts.
b) Ensure employee and community safety.
c) Determine the scope of the scene; and
d) Direct departmental resources.
NOTE: If it is possible to satisfy these needs through other sources such as witness
employees or independent witnesses, this statement would not be required
from the involved employee(s).
b. Confirm appropriate medical assistance has been summoned/provided as necessary.
c. Ensure the scene is protected and witnesses identified and detained.
d. Coordinate the activities of back-up units.
e. Ascertain the scene status of the involved employee(s) to include their physical/emotional
condition, providing resources and accommodating reasonable requests, as needed. (also: ADM-
330 Employee Psychological Services).
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