What is a critical incident?

A critical incident is any incident that may result in a criminal investigation or serious rules violation. This includes, a death in custody, injuries that may occur while in the process or an arrest, or even the discharge of a weapon. In order to be prepared if such an incident does occur, officer need to know exactly who to contact, what your rights are and that all processes are properly followed. 


What to do if you are involved in a critical incident?


If you are involved in a critical incident such as an officer involved shooting, you should...


1. Contact your union steward or union board member immediately.


2. Beyond information given for officer's safety, officers should not discuss the details of the incident with anyone including their Steward.


3. Officers are protected by the Fifth Amendment and must invoke the right to remain silent until they have spoken to an attorney.