During a field interview, what role does the cover officer typically play?

In a field interview, the cover officer plays a crucial role by ensuring the safety of the primary officer and supporting the situation without directly leading the interview. This is often done by remaining in a position where they can observe and intervene if necessary, providing backup and verbal support if the situation escalates.

The primary focus of the cover officer is to maintain situational awareness, monitoring the surrounding environment for potential threats or developments that may require their immediate attention. This often means they will stay relatively silent unless their communication is needed to ensure the safety of the primary officer or to provide crucial information. Their presence allows the primary officer to focus on the interview while still having support close at hand. Thus, remaining silent unless necessary is an important part of maintaining the dynamics of the interaction and allows for more effective communication during the interview itself.

In contrast, leading the interview or collecting evidence would place the cover officer in a more active role that could compromise their ability to provide support.