ARREST (CIVILIAN)
In most cases, SFS Law Enforcement (LE) Desk will contact you. Occasionally, call may come from a supervisor, co-worker, the military member or even local police. DO NOT offer to pay any bail or intercede on behalf of the military member. If an incident such as this occurs, you do not want to be responsible for the member after being bailed out of jail.
DO NOT DISCUSS THE INCIDENT!! FIRST SERGEANT RESPONSIBILITY IS AIRMAN CARE!
**Remember, do not make promises regarding punishments, disposition is up to your commander!
This is ONLY a guide to facilitate ACTION, create REMINDERS, and provide QUESTIONS to think about
Please use applicable directive(s) for specific instructions
ACTION 1
Upon Notification, determine condition of member & gather the following:
Status of member
Rank, Name, & SSN
Reason for arrest
Specifics of the incident (Who, What, When, Why, Times, etc.)
Pending charges?
Any other family members involved?
Any injuries?
What is bail or can they be released without bail to 1Sgt or CC?
Where is member being held?
If possible, obtain names/badge numbers of arresting officer(s) for future reference
Ask for copy of police report or instructions on how to obtain a copy
Notify your commander ASAP
Being apprehended by the authorities can be a life altering experience for some people. If you feel they need help, don’t hesitate to get it! If member is married, monitor their financial situation with pending court, lawyer, and other costs. Member may need to be considered for some financial assistance to ensure the health/welfare of the family
ACTION 2
If your airman is arrested, go to the website nmcourts.gov a few days afterwards, and search for the case record. This will be useful info for SJA
Have member & supervisor report to you the next day that member is on status. Allow enough time to consult with SJA and re-brief the commander with the legal points. Provide feedback and recommendations to the commander. Determine if any military type actions are needed (LOR, Article 15, etc.) with the assistance of Legal
Ensure you monitor the member’s civil court dates and the judgments of those court dates. Depending upon the judgment, the member’s military career could be effected