Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTIVE
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTIVE 533.12
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533.12
DISTURBANCE/KEEP THE PEACE CALLS
1-31-2023
PURPOSE
This Communications Directive establishes guidelines for Communications personnel handling calls regarding
disturbances.
POLICY
The policy of the Communications Division is to enter calls for service when there is a potential for
violence or a need to keep the peace.
PROCEDURE
Disturbances are defined as service calls where police mediation is needed and are often heated volatile
incidents that require a police response to defuse the situation before it escalates.
A. DISTURBANCE CALLS
When questioning callers about any type of disturbance, the following information is to be included in the
TEXT field if available:
1. Information that clarifies the location. In addition to the exact address and the business name , if
applicable, to which the officer s are responding , include clarifying information that better directs the
officers (i.e. , in the kitchen, in the backyard, in the garage, front or rear residence).
2. Indicate the number and type of any weapons involved, keeping in mind that , in a disturbance
call, a subject may be armed at the time of call, or holding a weapon in a threatening manner.
a. Change/update the type code to a 415W.
b. When an armed subject has used or attempted to use a weapon, the situation has escalated to a
felony assault and the appropriate 245 incident type code is used.
3. List the number of people involved in the disturbance.
a. Is the incident occurring at a large gathering?
b. Indicate the approximate number of bystanders who could present a threat to responding
officers .
c. Indicate the identity or description of the main aggressor(s) .
4. Indicate if the parties involved have used alcohol or narcotics today .
5. Indicate if any of the parties involved have been violent in the past.
6. Indicate if any of the parties involved have a mental health diagnosis .
B. VERBAL DISPUTES
1. The incident type code 415F is used with verbal arguments between family members (i.e.,
brother/sister, mother/son, and aunt/grandmother) .
2. The incident type code 415DV is used for verbal disputes involving domestic violence relationship
categories such as :
a. Spouse or ex-spouse .
b. Dating relationship or ex -dating relationship.
c. Co-parents .
d. Persons in a dating or martial relationship that cohabitate.
C. DISTURBANCE INVOLVING UNHOUSED PERSONS
1. Unhoused person causing a disturbance.
a. The c all taker shall clarify if the unhoused person is on public or private property .
b. The c all taker shall enter call for service using the appropriate 415 type code.
2. Unhoused persons camping out and not causing a disturbance
a. The c all taker shall attempt to determine if the disturbance is on private property or public property.
b. If on private property , the call taker will enter a call for service if the owner or person responsible
for the property is the one making the complaint.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTIVE
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTIVE 533.12
Page 2 of 3
(1) The property owner or authorized agent must be the enforcing agent for the 602 Notice of
Trespass.
(2) The 602 Notice of Trespass shall not be used in place of an eviction notice.
c. If on public property, the call taker shall assess if the unhoused persons are obstructing walkways
and/or roadways.
(1) If the unhoused persons are obstructing walkways and/or roadways a call for service shall
be entered.
(2) If the unhoused persons are not in violation of existing criminal law t he caller
shall be referred to proper channels regarding unhoused camps (i.e. , 311, City Cod e
Enforcement) .
D. DISTURBANCE INVOLVING INTOXICATED PERSONS
1. It is important to be alert for medical problems.
a. Some serious medical conditions have symptoms that may make a subject appear intoxicated.
b. Persons who are intoxicated may need medical aid, as a result of the amount of alcohol they
consumed, or from falling and injuring themselves.
c. Ask callers who are reporting intoxicated persons if they have a reason to believe that medical aid
is also needed.
2. Enter a call for intoxicated subjects who are creating a disturbance, utilizing the 415 incident type
code.
3. Business employees and owners frequently call to report situations involving intoxicated subjects.
a. When the intoxicated person is sleeping, or appear s to be passed out in front of the business , but
is not causing any problems to customers, the 981 or 922 incident type code is used.
b. Enter a call when there is any indication of a subject down with possible medical complications or
injuries, utiliz ing the incident type code 945.
E. CIVIL STAND BY REQUEST / KEEP THE PEACE CALLS
1. A “Keep the Peace” or “Civil Stand by Request” call for service shall be entered in a situation where
there