Policy Text
Page 1 of 2 9/01 (REV 8/19)
Off-Duty Law Enforcement Involvement
The purpose of the General Order i s to define Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office
personnel responsibilities, author ity, and limitations when off -duty. This Order is
distinguished from, and does not address, off-duty law enforcem ent employment. This
Order is not intended to restrict the reasonable efforts of She riff’s Office personnel in the
protection of life or property. T hese procedures are establish ed for our employees’
safety and to keep their profe ssional integrity above reproach.
For the purposes of this order, S heriff’s Office personnel/empl oyee refers to both Sworn
and Non-Sworn classifications. I. Crimes in Progress While Off-Duty
A. The seriousness of a crime in progress will influence an em ployee’s
course of action. The appropriate ness of an employee’s action will be
determined by considering the fa cts known to the employee at th e time of
the incident. Personnel must reco gnize the potential for viole nce or
accomplices, and that he or she is acting unaided without immed iate
assistance. In deciding whether off-duty enforcement action w ill be taken,
the following rules shall be followed:
Traffic
A. Sheriff’s Office personnel s hall not make misdemeanor traffi c arrests.
Also, pursuit of another vehicl e by off-duty personnel, in a pr ivate vehicle
is prohibited.
B. Gang Fights Attempts to intercede or make a rrests in misdemeanor gang fig hts or
assemblages shall not be under taken by off-duty personnel.
C. Neighborhood Disturbances
Due to the delicate nature o f neighborhood disturbances, off-du ty
personnel shall refrain from mak ing misdemeanor arrests or taki ng action
in an attempt to settle neighbor hood disturbances. Complainant s should
be referred to the responsible law enforcement agency.
D. All Other Situations
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Where there is no urgent or imm ediate need for law enforcement action,
off-duty personnel shall contact th e responsible law enforcemen t agency,
observe the incident, and await t he reporting unit’s arrival fo r a witness
statement and/or sus pect identification.
II. Arrest in Other Jurisdictions
Off-duty Personnel who effect an a rrest in other jurisdictions or participate in
such arrests, shall immediately , or as soon as possible, report the details of the
arrest verbally to the Communica tions Bureau supervisor. Perso nnel are also
required to notify their divisi on commander no later than the f ollowing work day.
III. Personal Involvement in Criminal Investigations
A. Personal involvement in a crim inal investigation is defined as those
situations in which Sacramento Sheriff’s Office personnel, thei r family, or
personal friends become the vict im(s) of criminal activity.
B. Off-duty personnel shall not bec ome involved in a criminal i nvestigation
which does not arise out of t he employee’s normal duty assignme nt unless
directed or authorized to do so b y the officer’s immediate supe rvisor.
Exception: Nothing in this Order is intended to prevent an off icer from
investigating a crime in which he or she is personally involved when
exigent circumstances threaten th e loss of evidence, the loss o f
witnesses, the escape of the sus pect, or when the circumstances create
the possibility of serious injur y to the officer or others. Wh en such exigent
circumstances cease, so shall th e officer’s efforts to further investigate the
crime.
IV. Access to Department or Other Law Enforcement Records
Personnel shall not directly or indirectly access departmental or other law
enforcement records when off-dut y for non-job related reasons.