What should be done if an incident is captured on video?

• A. Refer to agency policies for reviewing footage to aid in report writing
• B. Ignore the video if it conflicts with your notes
• C. Copy the video into the report body
• D. Delete the video after writing

Answer: (A)

Access is governed by established procedures, so the best step is to consult and follow the agency’s policies for reviewing footage. Those policies lay out who can access video, how to access it, how to log and document its use, and how it should be incorporated into the report. By sticking to these guidelines, you make sure the video is used to verify and clarify what happened, not to introduce unverified impressions, while also preserving the chain of custody and respecting privacy and legal requirements.

Using the video in this way helps you corroborate events, pinpoint exact times, and ensure your report reflects what the footage shows. It also provides clear instructions on how to reference the footage in the report—what to note about what was viewed, how to describe the relevant segments, and how to handle timestamps. This avoids improper practices like embedding raw video into the report, altering or deleting footage, or ignoring it when it contradicts your notes. Following policy ensures the incident is documented accurately, consistently, and compliantly.