A method and apparatus for bypassing a virtual partner is provided herein. During operation a device will have knowledge of a status of sensors connected to form a personal-area network (PAN) and/or have knowledge of a current incident type assigned to a user. The device will then bypass digital-assistant functionality based on the status of associated PAN devices and/or the incident type. Thus, virtual-partner functionality will be bypassed based on a fact that a public-safety event has occurred. As discussed, the public-safety event may comprise a current incident assigned to a user, or a status of at least one device/sensor connected to form a PAN.