Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 532.03
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532.03
BOMB THREATS AND EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
11-15-19
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish procedures to be followed when handling incidents involving bomb
threats, explosives and/or suspected explosive devices.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to handle all bomb threat and explosives calls in a systematic manner that ensures the safety of the public and officers involved.
PROCEDURE
A. BOMB THREATS
1. When a bomb threat is received, Department personnel shall obtain as much information as
possible about the bomb and its location.
2. The district sergeant shall be notified of all bomb threats that occur in their district.
3. The Communications Center shall send an MDC message regarding the location of the bomb
threat.
B. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The District Sergeant shall respond to the scene of the following calls when practical:
a. A suspicious package is located.
b. The call is part of a pattern or series.
c. A bomb threat or device call where a search is necessary.
d. A bomb threat involving a police facility.
e. A bomb threat involving a school.
2. District Sergeants shall make themselves familiar with the details of the call and shall monitor and
direct searches.
3. If the bomb threat occurs at a police facility, the Watch Commander shall:
a. Evaluate whether an evacuation should take place and coordinate the evacuation if deemed
necessary.
b. Ensure that the following are notified:
(1) The facility’s captain or designee.
(2) Polic e personnel occupying the building.
(3) Other tenants assigned to the building, if applicable.
(4) The Communications Center.
(5) The Deputy Chief of the facility and the Chief of Police.
(6) All other Sacramento Police Department facilities, as necessary.
c. Coordinate the response from patrol and/or other units.
d. Coordinate a search of the building, if deemed appropriate.
C. OFFICER RESPONSE
1. officers shall respond to all bomb threats.
2. If a suspicious item is located, officers shall move away from the item to a safe location behind cover that could withstand a detonation from the suspected device prior to making radio transmissions.
3. Officers shall also ensure that the public is safely evacuated away from the suspected device prior to any transmissions.
4. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit shall be called to a bomb threat when there are
extenuating circumstances (e.g., past bombing location, dignitary protection, sensitive locations ,
etc.).
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 532.03
Page 2 of 4
5. Officers responding to the scene shall:
a. Contact the person who received the call/threat and obtain a statement.
b. Contact any witness who observed any suspicious activity or suspicious item(s).
c. Contact the person in charge of the facility.
d. Remain alert for persons leaving the area or showing an unusual amount of curiosity.
e. Make their supervisor aware of all pertinent details as soon as practical.
D. SEARCH PROCEDURES :
E. EVACUATIONS
1.
F. REPORT REQUIREMENTS
1. Officer(s) assigned to a bomb threat call shall prepare an offense report.
2. EOD personnel shall complete supplements documenting their actions on the call.
G. SUSPICIOUS ITEMS/EXPLOSIVES/IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
1. Officers locating raw explosives or a device that may contain an explosive shall:
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 532.03
Page 3 of 4
H. RESPONSE TO EXPLOSIONS
1. Aside from normal emergency response procedures, officer(s) responding to an actual explosion
shall:
a. Main tain a crime scene.
b. Notify their chain of command so that and EOD call -out can be initiated.
c. Establish a perimeter at a reasonable distance from the blast site to protect themselves and the
public as well as to preserve evidence.
2. Officers shall avoid handling debris unnecessarily due to the toxic nature of some explosives.
I. OTHER EXPLOSIVES/DEVICES
1. Military ordnance
a. Officers shall not touch or handle military ordnance.
b. Ammunition over .60 caliber is considered to be an explosive device and shall be handled by
EOD personnel only.
c. Upon the discovery of military ordnance, officers shall establish a perimeter and coordinate evacuations up to 1,000 feet.
d. An EOD call- out shall be initiated by the Watch Commander or their designee.
2. Incendiary devices are destructive devices also commonly referred to as Molotov cocktails. They are comprised of a breakable container with a wick containing an ignitable liquid that has a flash
point.
a. Incendiary devices or remnants of devices should not be handled by officers.
b. The area around the device shall be secured by officers.
c. When located, an EOD call -out shall be initiated by the Watch Commander or their designee.
3. Fireworks should be handled with caution as they contain a pyrotechnic powder that is explosive.
a. Safe and Sane fireworks, which are the only legal fireworks in California, have a California State
Fire Marshal seal.
b. Safe and Sane fireworks can be booked into the Sacramento Police Property Section.
c. Some illegal fireworks, such as