What should corrections officers do if they observe stranded motorists while operating an agency vehicle?

• A. Continue to destination and report after the shift.
• B. Notify the Communications Center for assistance and, if not transporting inmates, stop to assess the situation.
• C. Call local police and leave the scene.
• D. Ignore and proceed.

Answer: (B)

When you encounter a stranded motorist during a vehicle run, the first priority is safety and getting the right help on scene through your agency’s dispatch system. The best approach is to alert the Communications Center for assistance and, if you’re not transporting inmates, stop to assess the situation. Notifying dispatch ensures that professional road-side help—such as tow services, local responders, or patrol units—can be coordinated without you abandoning the scene, and it keeps a proper record of the interaction. Stopping to evaluate the situation when you’re not transporting inmates lets you determine immediate risks and offer aid without compromising security or custody.

If you are transporting inmates, you may not be able to stop, but you should still notify dispatch so they can arrange safe assistance while you maintain custody and continue to your destination. This approach avoids leaving the motorist unattended, which could create danger or liability, and it follows established communication and safety protocols.

This is preferable to continuing to the destination without help, calling local police and leaving the scene, or ignoring the situation, all of which would fail to provide needed aid and could violate policy and safety standards.