Before taking enforcement action, what should an officer ensure about every computer hit?

Prior to taking enforcement action based on a computer hit, it is paramount for an officer to confirm and verify the information. This step ensures the reliability and accuracy of the data retrieved, which is essential in law enforcement operations. Confirming the hit can involve cross-referencing the information with multiple databases or sources to mitigate the risk of acting on potentially erroneous data. Ensuring the validity of the information helps avoid wrongful arrests, legal repercussions, and mistakes that can undermine the integrity of the investigation and the safety of the community.

Other options do not emphasize the critical need for verification. For instance, finalizing a hit and sending it to a subordinate, while necessary in some contexts, does not ensure that the information is accurate and actionable. Similarly, reporting to the media could risk compromising an investigation if the data is unverified, and saving information for future reference does not address the immediate need to ascertain the hit's accuracy before any enforcement action is taken.