If during an Incident Review a policy violation may have occurred, what action should you take?

• A. Stop your review of the allegation immediately
• B. Continue the review without interruption
• C. Notify the media
• D. Close the file without documentation

Answer: (A)

When an Incident Review suggests a policy violation, the priority is the integrity of the investigation. Stop your review immediately so you don’t risk contaminating evidence, avoid introducing bias into the assessment, and allow a proper, independent process to begin. Pause to document what you observed, secure any relevant materials, and promptly notify the appropriate supervisor or investigative unit to take over. Continuing the review could compromise evidence or conceal wrongdoing, and actions like notifying the media or closing the file without documentation would violate policy and undermine accountability.