Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 255.10
255.10
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS
06-14-01
PURPOSE
To establish procedures for conducting background in vestigations on potential department personnel
and data processing/service cont ractors who will have access to police information.
POLICYTo take reasonable steps to protect the integrity and security of police information from unauthorized
personnel.
PROCEDURE
A. GENERAL
1. Any persons having access to police information shall have a personal background
investigation conducted on them.
2. The objective of the investigation shall be to identify those persons with criminal records
or those who could be a potential security risk.
3. Investigations shall be conducted acco rding to the Peace Officers Standards and
Training requirements.
4. Civilian employees considered for a posit ion within the Police Department shall be
interviewed by the hiring authority, before the background investigation is initiated.
a. No job offer shall be made to an applic ant until completion of the background
investigation.
b. After the interview, the hiring author ity conducting the interview shall notify
Personnel Services which candidate is to be considered for hiring.
c. Personnel Services shall then contact the candidate and arrange for the
completion of a Background Information Questionnaire (SPD 469) and waivers. After receiving the completed SPD 469, the Background Investigations Unit shall review it and make the necessary inquiries.
5. All Background investigations shal l be coordinated through the Background
Investigations Supervisor. Backgrounds for potential employees shal l entail, but not be
limited to investigation of the following:
a. Completion of the SPD 469b. A fingerprint check through our Depart ment, Department of Justice, and FBI
c. School transcriptsd. Interviewing neighbors, ex-employers, references, etc.e. Military recordsf. Driver licenseg. Retail crediti. Criminal history record (local county system only)
j. Personal history statementk. Polygraph reportl. Psychological evaluation (polic e officers and dispatchers only)
m. Personal contacts, if deemed necessaryn. Summary of background investigation information.
6. Potential employees successful in the bac kground investigation shall be notified by
Personnel Services that they have been sele cted for completion of the hiring process.
7. Backgrounds for volunteers may entail any of th e criteria listed in section A5 above, as
deemed necessary.
8. Potential volunteers successful in the backg round investigation shall be notified by the
Volunteer Coordinator, Programs Development Unit, that they have been selected for
completion of the volunteer process.
9. Division Managers shall ensure a backgr ound has been completed on all personal who
will have access to police information before al lowing them access to that information.
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SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 255.10B. CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER
1. The hiring authority shall conduct the intervie w in order to make a conditional job offer.
2. Once the hiring authority has made a conditional job offer, the background investigation
file shall be returned to the Background Supervisor.
3. If the hiring authority reje cts an applicant, Personnel Serv ices shall ensure, whenever
possible, a replacement applic ant is selected and scheduled for an interview with the
hiring authority.
4. A conditional job offer may be withdrawn:
a. due to a failure to complete a job relat ed requirement of the medical examination
or psychological evaluation.
b. when it is determined that an applicant c annot perform the essential elements of
the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
c. failure to pass the Background Evaluation.
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