Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 532.08
Page 1 of 3
532.08
INCIDENT COMMAND POST
12-22-2 1
P
URPOSE
The purpose of this order is to outline procedures for the establishment of an Incident Command
Post (ICP).
P
OLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to establish an Incident Command Post
(ICP) to direct incident planning and tactical operations and provide a designated control point to
prevent disorganization and the duplication of efforts .
PRO
CEDURE
A.GENERAL
An ICP shall be established when an incident or s ituation develops that requires non-r outine,
heightened supervisory command and control to coordinate an operation. The person in command
of the ICP is referred to as the Inc ident Commander (IC).
B.OPERATIONAL CONTROL
1.When an ICP is established, the senior uniformed officer present shall be the IC until relieved
by the watch co mmander or their designee.
2.The watc h commander, or their designee, shall as sume the role as IC as soon as possible and
shall remain in charge until the completion of the operation or until relieved.
a.If an of ficer who is higher ranking than the watch commander responds to the ICP, they may
assist as necessary.
b.Should the higher ranking officer choose to direct the operation, they shall formally assume
command.
(1)The lower ranking watch commander s hall then function as an assistant to the IC.
(2)Higher ranking staff officers s hall not automatically assume command until they have
gained full awareness of the situation and/or see a definite need to do s o.
3.The IC shall have the authority to utilize Department resources and to make decisions
necessary to resolve or terminate the operation.
4.Typically, for both emergency and preplanned ICP operations, the IC shall remain at the ICP.
C.ESTABLISHING THE ICP
1.The IC or their designee shall:
a.Establish the ICP in an area close enough to the scene to ensure the facilitation of team
movement and tas k assignments. Note: In instances in which the s uspect is believed to
have access to weapons, the ICP shall be located out of the line of fire and a s afe distance
from the threat.
b.Set the perimeter boundaries, establish ingress/egress routes , and maintain control of the
entrance to and exit from the CP area.
(1)The IC s hall designate a media staging area if necessary. The media s taging area should
be close to the event and within the area restricted from the general public if safe and
practical. The media staging area should be clearly marked as to alert members of the
public that it is restricted from access. A citizen identifying themselves as a member of
the media should be granted access to the media staging area.
(2)Members of the media and public shall be restricted from the ICP as sensitive,
confidential or otherwise restricted information (CORI, CLETS, tac tical data bearing on
public and offic er safety, etc .) is commonly shared in the ICP.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 532.08
Page 2 of 3
(a) The IC s hall be notified and consulted for direction as soon as practical if any
member of the public, including the media, is detained.
(3)The following shall apply for the area surrounding any ICP where individuals are
engaged in activity that is protected pursuant to the Firs t Amendment:
(a)A repres entative of any news service, online news service, newspaper, or radio or
television station or network may enter the closed area surrounding the command
post.
(b)A peace officer or other law enforcement officer shall not intentionally assault,
interfere with, or obs truct the representative of any news serv ice, online news
servic e, newspaper, or radio or television station or ne twork who is gathering,
receiving, or processing information for c ommunication to the public.
(c)A representative of any news service, online news service, newspaper, or radio or
television station or network that is in a closed area described in this section s hall
not be cited for the failure to disperse, a violation of a curfew, or a violation of
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Penal Code Section 148, for gathering,
receiving, or processing information.
(d)If the representative is detained by a peace officer or other law enforcement officer,
that representativ e shall be permitted to contact a s uperv isory officer immediately
for the purpose of challenging the detention, unless circumstances make it
impossible to do so.
(e)Nothing prevents a peace officer from enforcing other applicable laws if the person
is engaged in activity that is unlawful.
2. C
ommunications Division shall :
a.Make an "ALL UNITS" broadcast to notify Department personnel of the incident, the
scene, the exact location of the ICP, correct and safe approach routes to the ICP, parking
area(s) , and any assembly/staging area(s) if different from the ICP.
b.Notify the Fire Department and all other outside agencies with responding personnel.
c.Dedicate the radio channel for exclusive use by the operation as necessary. Note: If the
situation occurs on an active radio channel, the incident shall remain on that channel and
uninvolved radio traffic shall be directed to another channel.
d.Ensure that the radio call identifier for the ICP shall be "Command Post."
e.Ensure