GO 532.0620 - Clandestine Laboratories

SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 532.06 Page 1 of 2 532.06 CLANDESTINE LABORATORIES 2-27-2025 PURPOSE The purpose of this order is to establish procedures for the safe handling of hazardous materials associated with the manufacture of illegal narcotics. POLICY It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) that when hazardous materials associated with a clandestine laboratory are located, the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department, the owner of the involved property, the Sacramento Fire Department (SFD), Sacramento City Dangerous Buildings, and the Western States Information Network (WSIN) be notified. PROCEDURE A. HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS 1. When employees encounter evidence that a scene is identified or suspected of being a clandestine laboratory employees shall: a. Immediately notify their supervisor. b. Cease all movement or examination of chemicals or suspected chemicals. c. Notify the SFD, based on the danger of fire or explosion. d. Isolate, contain, and restrict access to the area, as necessary. 2. If any employee, SFD personnel, other first responders, or citizens appear to have been injured, contaminated, or made ill due to exposure of chemicals or other hazards: a. Ensure immediate emergency transportation to a medical facility. (1) If the SFD Hazardous Material Unit (HAZMAT) is on scene, request decontamination of persons prior to transporting from the scene. (2) If SFD HAZMAT or hazardous material personnel are not immediately available, ensure persons remove contaminated clothing as soon as possible to avoid further exposure to chemicals. b. Provide all available information to the treating physician pertaining to the chemicals or hazards present at the scene. 3. Supervisors shall: a. Immediately notify the on -duty watch commander. b. With the approval of the on- duty watch commander, facilitate the notification, evaluation, and response of an Office of Investigations (OOI), detective that has been trained in handling clandestine laboratories. (1) The Communications Division shall facilitate the identification of the appropriate investigative personnel via the “On- Call Narcotics” notepad topic. c. Consider in- field reviews of the initially responding employees’ body -worn camera footage to decrease the necessity of re- entry to a potentially hazardous scene. d. In collaboration with a narcotics detective, evaluate if the totality of circumstances amount to a prosecutable case based on the presence of chemicals or equipment required to manufacture narcotics. (1) If a prosecutable case does not exist, surrender responsibility of the scene to SFD in accordance with General Order 532.05 (Hazardous Materials). e. Consult with an SPD on- call narcotics detective, trained in handling clandestine laboratories, to determine their response to assist in the collection of fentanyl, suspected fentanyl, or other unidentified and uncontained substances for evidence. B. OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS DETECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES 1. At the direction of the Office of Investigations office chief, the SPD may assign at least one detective to the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office (SSO) Lab Team. Detectives assigned to the SSO Lab Team shall: a. Coordinate response to clandestine laboratories or other hazardous situations associated with clandestine laboratories. SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 532.06 Page 2 of 2 b. Be responsive to supervisors requesting information. c. Maintain an on- call schedule. (1) Other detectives covering on- call narcotics detective duties shall adhere to this policy. 2. If the facts of a suspected clandestine laboratory substantiate a prosecutable case, on- call narcotics detectives shall facilitate the response of the SSO Lab Team to assist in securing and processing evidence. a. Office of Operations resources may be necessary to provide security during scene processing. b. If a clandestine laboratory is suspected as the source of a fire that burns any structure, forest land, or property, the case shall also be investigated by SFD arson investigators. Detectives shall ensure arson investigators are notified of the incident t o respond and conduct a concurrent investigation. 3. If the facts of a suspected clandestine laboratory do not substantiate a prosecutable case, detectives shall: a. Advise SFD that the scene is no longer subject to police investigation. b. Provide any information that may classify the scene as a hazardous material situation. c. Relinquish command to SFD in accordance with GO 532.05 (Hazardous Material Incidents) . d. At the request of SFD, the on- duty watch commander shall be contacted to coordinate and designate SPD employees for scene security while arrangements are made to remove hazardous material. 4. Upon completion of the initial response to a clandestine laboratory, on -call narcotics detectives shall: a. Notify the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (916- 875-8484) of the incident by telephone and no later than the end of the shift of the next working day. b. Contact Sacramento City Housing and Dangerous Buildings to determine if the location meets criteria to post signage for non -entry. c. Clandestine laboratory seizures are reported to the National Seizure System (NSS) : https://esp.usdoj.gov utilizing EPIC Form 143 National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure Report. d. Post an SPD 641 Warning Hazardous Chemicals on the real property or vehicle to warn of a possible hazardous situation. C. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS RESPONSIBILITY 1. Forensic investigators assigned to a clandest