Off-duty officers may encounter criminal activity during which they must decide whether to take enforcement action. This decision involves careful consideration of an officer’s duty to protect and serve the community while weighing their ability to do so safely. When engaged in off-duty enforcement of this type, non-uniformed officers' risk being mistaken as criminal suspects by responding officers. 

The included protocols are intended to define when off-duty, non-uniformed enforcement action is authorized and how it should be conducted in order to reduce the potential of officer-on-officer shootings and related injuries. These documents provide guidelines to police officers regarding acceptable criteria for making an off-duty arrest and appropriate behavior for ensuring safety during off-duty enforcement actions.