In a S38 incident, which of the following is included in the notification list?

In a S38 incident, which of the following is included in the notification list?

• A. The Sergeant, Patrol Supervisor, and Public Information Officer.
• B. The Sergeant, Division Commander where incident occurred, and IA only.
• C. The Sergeant, Watch Commander, CDO, and IA only.
• D. The Sergeant, Watch Commander, CDO, Suspect's Commander, Division Commander where incident occurred, and IA.

Answer: (D)

In a S38 incident, you alert the people who hold immediate command and oversight at multiple levels, plus the chain of command for the personnel involved, so the response is swift, coordinated, and properly reviewed. The on-scene Sergeant is needed for immediate supervision and situational awareness. The Watch Commander keeps the overall shift informed and can marshal resources as needed. The Command Duty Officer is the central coordinating point for incident handling, ensuring protocol is followed and decisions are documented. Including the Suspect’s Commander ensures accountability and oversight for the unit to which the officer or suspect belongs, which helps prevent hidden issues from slipping through the cracks. The Division Commander where the incident occurred guarantees division-level awareness and proper resource allocation, while Internal Affairs provides independent oversight and the potential for formal inquiry if warranted. This combination ensures comprehensive coverage across the chain of command and proper oversight from start to potential investigation. The other options miss one or more of these essential elements. They either omit key supervisory roles, omit the unit commander for the involved personnel, or prematurely add roles (like a Public Information Officer) that aren’t part of the initial notification set, which can delay or confuse incident response.

In a S38 incident, you alert the people who hold immediate command and oversight at multiple levels, plus the chain of command for the personnel involved, so the response is swift, coordinated, and properly reviewed. The on-scene Sergeant is needed for immediate supervision and situational awareness. The Watch Commander keeps the overall shift informed and can marshal resources as needed. The Command Duty Officer is the central coordinating point for incident handling, ensuring protocol is followed and decisions are documented. Including the Suspect’s Commander ensures accountability and oversight for the unit to which the officer or suspect belongs, which helps prevent hidden issues from slipping through the cracks. The Division Commander where the incident occurred guarantees division-level awareness and proper resource allocation, while Internal Affairs provides independent oversight and the potential for formal inquiry if warranted. This combination ensures comprehensive coverage across the chain of command and proper oversight from start to potential investigation.

The other options miss one or more of these essential elements. They either omit key supervisory roles, omit the unit commander for the involved personnel, or prematurely add roles (like a Public Information Officer) that aren’t part of the initial notification set, which can delay or confuse incident response.