Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 510.04
Page 1 of 4
GENERAL ORDER 510.04
DISPATCHING SEQUENCE OF ASSIGNMENT
01-15-2025
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish prioritization categories and ensure proper application of dispatching
sequence for expedient assignment of calls for service .
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) that calls for service are prioritized and
dispatched as expeditiously as possible or referred to the proper agency or SPD unit. Units engaged in
critical activit ies are not available for dispatch.
PROCEDURE
A. CRITICAL ACTIVITY
1. Appearing in court.
2. Arresting suspects and booking prisoners.
3. Attending formal training.
4. Attending roll call.
5. Collecting or booking evidence.
6. Eliminating or correcting a hazard.
7. On directed patrol (D0) assignment.
8. On scene and investigating a priority 1, 2, or 3 call.
9. Transporting people.
B. PRIORITY DEFINITION
1. All calls for service shall be categorized into the following priorities:
a. Priority 1 - Vehicle and foot pursuits and requests for cover by police and fire units.
b. Priority 2 - An emergency situation requiring immediate police response to preserve life or
apprehend a suspect (including combined medical aid incidents ).
c. Priority 3 - A ny crime against a person occurring within 15 minutes or less , calls with the potential to
escalate, or other situations requiring the response of an officer in a timely manner .
d. Priority 4 - Low priority service calls, time -element misdemeanors, and report calls requiring a sworn
officer.
e. Priority 5 - Report calls (Community Service Officers [ CSO ] and sworn officer) and ringing alarms .
f. Priority 6 - Errand calls , phone messages , and m issing person reports (not at risk).
g. Priority 7 - Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) follow- up calls.
h. Priority 8 – Planned events, game plans, or local government calls.
i. Priority 9 - Supplemental employment.
2. The computer -aided dispatch (CAD) system ensures all incident type codes have been assigned a
predefined priority consistent with this order.
a. A dispatcher shall have the discretion to change the priority ( lower or raise) of an incident if
specific circumstances warrant or as directed by a supervisor.
b. If a predefined priority is changed, the reason shall be clearly noted in the text of the incident.
C. DISPATCH SEQUENCE OF ASSIGNMENT
1. Dispatchers shall assign calls for service to available units and provide information and a ssistance,
as needed, to the field supervisors.
2. Upon reviewing a call and depending on a call’s circumstances, radio coordinators, sergeants, and watch commanders shall have the discretion to change proximity dispatching or regular dispatch.
3. Priority 1 and 2 calls and supplements shall be verbalized immediately and the closest available
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 510.04
Page 2 of 4
units shall be proximity dispatched utilizing the DPCLOSE command.
4. First responding officers of priority 1 and 2 calls shall assume the primary officer role, unless relieved
by the appropriate district officer.
5. Officers shall not cancel (code 4) units who are proximity dispatched to calls unless the units are
closer or with sergeant approval.
6. Sergeants shall monitor the proximity dispatching of units across district boundaries.
7. Priority 1 and 2 calls shall be proximity dispatched in the following sequence:
a. Two closest 909 units, citywide.
b. Closest unit on non-critical activity, to include units on code 7 and 907 status, citywide.
c. Closest 909 specialized unit, citywide.
8. Priority 3 calls shall be verbalized immediately and dispatched in the following sequence:
a. Any 909 beat unit.
b. Closest 909 district unit.
c. Any district unit on non- critical activity to include units on 907 status and excluding units on
code 7.
d. Any 909 specialized unit in district.
e. Closest 909 unit outside of district.
f. Any district unit on code 7.
9. Priority 4 service calls shall be dispatched as soon as possible in the following sequence:
a. Any 909 beat unit.
b. Closest 909 district unit.
c. Any 907 beat unit.
d. Closest 907 district unit.
10. Priority 5 service calls shall be dispatched as soon as possible in the following sequence:
a. Any 909 beat unit.
b. Closest 909 district unit.
c. Any 907 beat unit, if directed by a sergeant or above.
d. Closest 907 district unit, if directed by a sergeant or above.
11. Priority 5 report calls shall be dispatched to any 909 beat unit, unless directed by a sergeant. If
directed, dispatch the calls in the following sequence:
a. Any 907 beat unit.
b. Closest 909 district