Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 510.16
Page 1 of 1
510.16
TIP LINE
04-13-17
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish guidelines for activating the tip line.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to utilize the tip line to expeditiously
answer calls related to a critical incident when the tip line is activated .
PROCEDURE
A. GENERAL
1. The tip line shall not be activated without authorization f rom a Watch Commander (WC), Major
Crimes Lieutenant, or Investigations Lead Supervisor.
2. The following personnel, listed in order of priority, shall be assigned to staff the tip line phone
bank:
a. Investigations personnel (e.g. NCU Detectives).
b. Records Di vision personnel.
c. Communications Division personnel.
B. WATCH COMMANDER / INVESTIGATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The Watch Commander, Major Crimes Lieutenant, and/or Investigations Lead Super visor shall
be responsible for
a. Notifying the Communications Center to request an activation of the tip line.
b. Coordinating the release of the tip line telephone number through the PIO.
2. The Major Crimes Lieutenant or his/her de signee shall be responsible for
a. Staffing the tip line phone bank.
b. Coordinating the notification to other city resources (e.g. City 311, VIPS Coordinator,
Sacramento Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, Crime Alert, etc.).
c. Establishing a procedure that ensures that incoming tips are documented, assigned, and
provided a dis position.
C. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS DIVISION RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The Communications Division shall be responsible for
a. Facilitating the notification of personnel in the tip line activation group.
b. Preparing the area(s) and equipment at the Communications Center identified for the tip
line phone bank.
c. Providing support to the Investigations Lead Supervisor and personnel staffing the tip line
phone bank.
d. Serving as an overflow answering point by proc essing tips received on 911, the 7 -digit
emergency line, non -emergency line, or the dedicated tip line.
e. Providing additional personnel to staff the tip line phone bank, if requested.
2. The Records Div ision shall be responsible for
a. Dedicating personnel to fa cilitate processing tips through Cop Logic.
b. Providing additional personnel to staff the tip line phone bank, if requested.