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Newport News Police Department
ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL
ADM - 217 – DUTY TO INTERVENE
Amends/Supersedes: NEW Date of Issue: 08/11/2025
I. GENERAL
A. The Newport News Police Department recognizes that inappropriate conduct of department personnel
can have a significant impact on public trust in the department. This policy establishes guidelines and
expectations for employee intervention, in accordance with the department’s mission and values.
B. Newport News Police Department employees will intervene, within their scope of authority and training,
if they observe another department employee or public safety professional, regardless of agency
affiliation, engage in any unreasonable use of force, or if they become aware of any violation of
department policy, state or federal law, or local ordinance. Immediate intervention and notification are
required when the unreasonable actions could result in injury, death or violations of constitutional rights.
[1.2.10]
C. Immediate supervisor notification is required for all interventions. Additionally, employees who are
unable to directly intervene because of their scope of authority or are not appropriately trained for the
situation, must also immediately notify their supervisor.
D. Any law enforcement officer who fails to intervene may be deemed complicit and subject to prosecution
under 18 U.S. Code § 242 - Deprivation of rights under color of law for failure to intervene to stop the
constitutional violation.
II. DEFINITIONS
A. Intervene – To come between, either physically or verbally, or take action to prevent or interrupt
criminal, unconstitutional or inappropriate actions.
B. Scope of authority – the authority assigned to, and capabilities of an employee based on their job
description and training.
III. PROCEDURES
A. Decision to Intervene
The following situations are examples for when an employee, upon observing the behavior, may need to
intervene, as required by this policy:
1. The application of excessive and/or unnecessary force.
2. An unlawful investigative detention, arrest or search.
3. Bias-based profiling, as defined by ADM-214 Implicit Bias Policy and §52-30.1 of the Code of Virginia.
4. An employee fails to utilize appropriate de-escalation techniques, or whose actions appear to escalate
a situation to the point of conflict or violence.
5. Constitutional violations include retaliation for participation in 1st Amendment protected activities.
6. Any unsafe behavior and/or tactics that may endanger the safety of officers, employees or the public.
7. When employees display apparent signs of stress or inappropriate behavior, for the circumstances,
that appear to impede their ability to manage or de-escalate the situation.
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