policy-manual-for-web-5-5-2025

Palo Alto Police Department Policy Manual Redacted Version for Website* Updated May 5 , 2025 * See explanation and additional information on the following page. Please note that we have redacted (that is, removed) select portions of certain policies from this publicly -available version of the Palo Alto Police Department Policy Manual. The portions of the policies not disclosed relate to sensitive security issues, police tactics, and /or officer safety, and are withheld from disclosure in accordance with California Government Code §§6254(f), 6254(aa), 6254 (ab), and/or 6254.19. The ten policies that contain select portions we have withheld pursuant to these state laws are as follows : Policy 314: Vehicle Pursuits Policy 316: Officer Response to Calls Policy 322: Search and Seizure Polic y 363: StarChase Vehicle Pursuit Management System Policy 408: Crisis Response Unit Policy 414: Hostage and Barricade Incidents Policy 416: Response to Bomb Calls Policy 424: Rapid Response and Deployment Policy 432: Patrol Rifles and Shotguns Policy 458: Foot Pursuits Please note: • The redacted portions of the above policies are denoted by a solid dark rectangle obscuring the withheld text. • Not every sequential number has an associated policy. Some numbers are unassigned and are simply placeholders in the event future policies are needed. • Note that the date published in the footer of each page of the Policy Manual lists the last date that any single edit to any policy within the manual actually occurred. Each quarter, we publish a current version of the Policy Manual, even if no updates have been made in the past quarter. Palo Alto Police Department Policy Manual MISSION STATEMENT MISSION STATEMENT To Proudly Serve and Protect the Public with Respect and Integrity. VISION STATEMENT Through the Leadership and Commitment of Employees, the Palo Alto Police Department will build Trust and Respect with the Public and the Law Enforcement Profession. CORE VALUE STATEMENT We value and expect teamwork, trust, integrity, accountability, a positive attitude and the professional, impartial treatment of all. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/04/10, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Palo Alto Police DepartmentMISSION STATEMENT - 1 Palo Alto Police Department Policy Manual Table of Contents MISSION STATEMENT ......................1 Chapter 1 - Law Enforcement Role and Authority .............7 100 - Law Enforcement Authority ...................8 102 - Chief Executive Officer ....................10 104 - Oath of Office .......................11 106 - Policy Manual .......................12 Chapter 2 - Organization and Administration ..............15 200 - Organizational Structure and Responsibility .............16 204 - Interim Directive ......................19 206 - Emergency Management Plan .................20 208 - Training.........................23 212 - Email/Personal Mail/Telephone Usage/Voicemail ...........32 214 - Administrative Communications .................38 216 - Staffing Levels ......................39 218 - License to Carry a Firearm ..................41 220 - Retiree Concealed Firearms ..................48 222 - Gun Permit Policy .....................53 Chapter 3 - General Operations ...................55 300 - Use of Force .......................56 302 - Use of Force Review Boards ..................70 306 - Handcuffing and Restraints ..................73 308 - Control Devices and Techniques ................77 309 - Conducted Energy Device ...................82 310 - Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths ...............89 312 - Firearms........................96 314 - Vehicle Pursuits .....................111 316 - Officer Response to Calls ..................124 317 - Opioid Medical Aid and Response ................131 318 - Canines........................134 320 - Domestic Violence .....................145 322 - Search and Seizure ....................149 324 - Temporary Custody of Juveniles ................155 326 - Senior and Disability Victimization ................170 328 - Discriminatory Harassment ..................184 330 - Child Abuse .......................190 332 - Missing Persons .....................197 334 - Public Alerts .......................203 336 - Victim and Witness Assistance .................207 338 - Hate Crimes .......................210 340 - Standards of Conduct ....................220 342 - Information Technology Use ..................230 Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/04/10, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Palo Alto Police DepartmentTable of Contents - 2 Palo Alto Police Department Policy Manual 344 - Report Preparation .....................234 346 - News Media Relations ...................238 348 - Subpoenas and Court Appearances ...............243 350 - Reserve Officers .....................248 352 - Outside Agency Assistance ..................254 356 - Registered Offender Information ................256 358 - Major Incident Notification ..................259 360 - Death Investigation ....................261 362 - Identity Theft ......................265 363 - StarChase Vehicle Pursuit Management System ...........267 364 - Private Persons Arrests ...................271 368 - Limited English Proficiency Services ...............273 370 - Communications with Persons with Disabilities ............279 372 - Mandatory Employer Notification ................287 374 - Biological Samples .....................289 376 - Chaplains ........................292 378 - Public Safety Video Surveillance System .............297 379 - Child and Dependent Adult Safety ................301 381 - Service Animals .....................304 385 - Off-Duty Law Enforcement Actions ...............307 391 - Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation ..........309 392 - Gun Violence Restraining Orders ................311 394 - Generative Artificial Intelligence Use ...............317 Chapter 4 - Patrol Operations ...................319 400 - Patrol Function