Policy Text
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NOTIFICATION IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
The purpose of this order is to establish responsibility for no tification of the appropriate
persons/agencies in certain delineated circumstances.
I. Policy
A. In accordance with General Or der 7/04, the Communications Bu reau
watch supervisor or their designe e shall make notification as d irected or
as appropriate when direction is not required by General Order.
B. If an incident is not classifi ed as major, however, may stil l be considered
newsworthy, the media information officer, or assigned alternat e, is to be
contacted for evaluation of a necessary response or news releas e. Such
incidents include, bu t are not limited to:
1. All SED operations 2. The arrest of a wanted person that has attracted public atte ntion.
3. Critical incidents involvi ng public or officer safety.
II. Major Incidents
A. A major incident is defined as a potential or actual disaste r, any
enforcement action requiring t he commitment of large numbers of officers,
the arrest of a well-known public figure or celebrity, or any o ther situation
likely to attract wide media in terest. At the direction of the on-duty Patrol
watch commander (General Order 7/ 04), the on-duty Communication s
supervisor or their designee sha ll notify the appropriate divis ion
commander and the Media Information Officer.
III. Shooting Incidents
A. The Communications watch supe rvisor notified by a department
employee, or by the supervisor o f an employee that the employee has
been involved in a shooting incide nt shall make notification in the following
order:
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1. Incidents occurring within the jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s
Department:
a. On-duty Patrol watch commander. b. Employee’s division commander. c. Internal Affairs. d. Representative of the appropriate labor union.
2. Shooting involvin g injury or death:
a. On-duty Patrol watch commander. b. Homicide Bureau commander. c. Employee’s division commander. d. Crime scene investigators. e. Internal Affairs. f. Media Information Officer. g. On-duty or on-call Distric t Attorney’s investigator.
h. Law Enforcement Chaplain w hen an officer is seriously
injured or killed.
i. County Risk Manager in the event of serious injury or death.
j. Department Rangemaster. k. Representative of the appropriate labor union.
B. Incidents occurring outside t he jurisdiction of the Sheriff’ s Department
(injury and non-injury i ncidents inclusive):
1. Law enforcement agency with jurisdiction. 2. On-duty Patrol watch commander. 3. Employee’s division commander. 4. Internal Affairs.
5. Media Information Officer.
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6. Law Enforcement Chaplain in t he event of serious injury or d eath of
an officer.
7. Representative of the appropriate labor union.
8. County Risk Manager in the even t of serious injury or death.
IV. Non-Shooting Incidents Resu lting in Employee Injury
A. In the event of notification of an employee’s injury or deat h, the
Communications watch superviso r shall notify, in order:
1. Employee’s division commander. 2. Media Information Officer. 3. Law Enforcement Chaplain. 4. County Risk Manager. 5. Representative of the appropriate labor union.
V. Duty-Related Vehicular Deaths
A. In the event the Communication s watch supervisor is notified that an
employee of the department has been involved in a duty-related vehicular
death, the supervisor shall comple te the notification process, in order:
1. Incidents occurring wit hin Sacramento County:
a. The agency of j urisdiction.
b. The on-duty Patrol watch commander. c. Crime scene investigators. d. Employee’s division commander. e. Internal Affairs. f. Media Information Officer. g. Law Enforcement Chaplain h. Employee Relations Officer.
i. County Risk Manager.
j. Representative of appr opriate labor union.
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2. Incidents occurring outside of Sacramento County:
a. Employee’s division commander. b. Internal Affairs. c. Media Information Officer. d. Law Enforcement Chaplain. e. Employee Relations Officer. f. County Risk Manager. g. Representative of appr opriate labor union.
VI. Method of Notification
A. The Communications watch supe rvisor shall contact the listed
officers/agencies by whatever m eans is appropriate at the time.
B. In the event the Communication s supervisor cannot locate the Media
Information Office r, or the designated al ternate, and it may be necessary
to make a news media broadcast, re fer to Communications Operati ons
Order 2/03.0.