Policy Text
Oakland Police Department
Bureau of Investigation: Effective Date:
30 Nov 23
Policy and Procedures Manual
Policy 23‐02 (formerly 09‐01)
Index as: Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Recusals
The purpose of this document is to set forth bureau procedures for ensuring criminal investigation
assignments do not compromise investigative integrity, real or perceived.
I. DEFINITIONS
Consensual Romantic Relationship
Any consensual sexual or romantic relationship with another member.
Personal Friendship
A non‐family, non‐romantic relationship wherein the two parties consider each another
more than acquainted and who may have participated together in non‐departmental social
events or are privy to private details in one another’s personal or family lives.
Examples may include but are not limited to having visited one another’s home(s) for social
functions, having traveled together, or having spent time in the company of each other or
each other’s families.
Close Work Relationship
A non‐family, non‐romantic relationship wherein the two parties consider each another
more than acquainted and who may have participated routinely and closely in departmental
actions or are privy to private details in one another’s personal or family lives.
Examples may include but are not limited to having been assigned as patrol or investigative
“adam” partners within the past 5 years.
Familial Relationship
Includes relationship by blood, adoption, marriage, domestic partnership, foster care with
cohabitation, and includes parents, grandparents, great‐grandparents, grandchildren, great‐
grandchildren, children, foster children, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, first cousins, second
cousins, siblings and the spouses or domestic partners of each of these relatives and
cohabitants. This definition includes any relationship that exists by virtue of marriage or
domestic partnership, such as in‐law and step relationships, which are covered to the same
extent as blood relationships.
Outside Business Relationship
Members who, in addition to serving as a member of the Oakland Police Department, are
also an independent contractor, compensated consultant, owner, board member,
shareholder, or investor in an outside business, company, partnership, corporation, venture,
Oakland Police Department
Bureau of Investigation Policy 23‐02
30 Nov 23
2
or other transaction, in cooperation with another Department member, where either of the
Department member’s annual interest, compensation, investment, or obligation is greater
than $250.
II. POLICY1
a. It is the responsibility of all investigators to disclose any relationship with any involved
party (witness, suspect, victim, etc.) wherein the nature of the relationship could be
perceived to compromise the investigative process of a criminal investigation, and to
document the circumstances and to recuse oneself from participation therein.
b. An investigation shall, upon first level supervisor approval, be reassigned if any of the
following conditions exist:
i. Familial relationship;
ii. Outside business relationship;
iii. Consensual Romantic relationship;
iv. Personal friendship;
v. Close work relationship (as determined on a case‐by‐case basis).
III. CRIMINAL