Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 532.13
532.13
AFTER ACTION/DEBRIEFING REPORTS
04-27-94
PURPOSE
To establish procedures for Af ter Action/Debriefing Reports.
POLICYTo accurately document, in the form of an After Action Report or Debriefing Report, all major operations and/or incidents of an unusual nature.
PROCEDURE
A. DEFINITION
1. MAJOR INCIDENT - Includes, but is not limited to situations in which:
a. a command post is made operati onal for critical incidents.
b. a Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) is deployed (excluding narcotic
entries).
c. an officer involved shooting with injury occurs.d. mutual aid is involved.
NOTE: Also see G.O. 532.02.
2. MAJOR OPERATION - Any operation in wh ich an operational outli ne was prepared (see
G.O. 532.07) excluding narcotic search warrants and game plans.
B. GENERAL
1. Upon the conclusion of any major operation/ incident, the affected office chief shall
consider conducting an impartial debriefing to determine training issues and negative
aspects of the operation/ in cident, avoiding comm endations or discipline for actions
taken or omitted.
2. In making the decision to c onduct a debriefing, the office ch ief shall consider requests
from:
a. the Incident Commander (IC) in charge of the operation/incident.b. another office chief or another involved law enforcement agency.
3. The final decision to conduct a debriefing sha ll rest with the res pective office chief.
4. Debriefings shall be held within 20 worki ng days of the end of the operation/incident.
5. The Chief of Police (COP) shall be notifi ed, in writing, why no debriefing was conducted.
C. AFTER ACTION REPORT PACKAGE
1. The IC in charge of any major operation/in cident shall prepare an After Action Report.
The following attachments shall be submitted to the affected office chief at the beginning of the office chief's fifth working day, unl ess extenuating circumst ances prevail. The
report package and attachments shall contain:
a. the After Action Report form (SPD 005), identifying personnel deployed and
specialized equipment utilized.
b. all appropriate crime/incident reports.c. the Command Post Log, if available.d. an After Action Command Post Report (SPD 476).
2. Additionally, the following it ems shall be submitted as atta chments to the After Action
Report package within ten (10) days, or as s oon as they are available, if the affected
office chief feels they are required.
a. Copies of all Communi cations Call History printouts and copies of tape
recordings made of radio transmissi ons if pertinent to the report.
b. Copies of department video tapes, diagrams, and photographs that may have
been taken (or make arrangements to have them delivered)
c. Copies of outside agency diagrams/ documentation depict ing the incident.
3. Office chiefs shall forward a copy of the SPD 005 and attachments to the Professional
Standards Unit (PSU).
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SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 532.13D. DEBRIEFING OFFICER
1. The office chief shall appoint a debriefing of ficer. Before the debriefing, the debriefing
officer shall assemble all relevant materials (see paragraph C1-2).
2. The debriefing officer shall prepare and diss eminate a written agenda in advance of the
debriefing for all persons designated to attend.
E. PERSONS ATTENDING THE DEBRIEFING
1. The debriefing officer, upon review of avai lable reports, shall request the attendance of
ALL DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL having a ma jor role in the operation and a PSU
representative. Personnel considered should include, but not be limited to:
a. the affected office chief.
b. division/sect or captains.
c. executive lieutenants.d. affected watch commanders.e. Training Lieutenant.f. affected supervisors.g. affected officers/dispatchers.h. Communications Division representative.
2. With the debriefing officer's approval, other in terested parties may volu ntarily attend. No
overtime shall be allowed unle ss specifically approved in advance by their division/watch
commander or a higher authority.
3. The debriefing officer should notify represent atives from affected outside agencies of the
debriefing. Representatives shoul d include, but are not limited to:
a. affected supervisory personnel.b. Communications personnel from the outside agency.
F. DEBRIEFING REPORT
1. Upon conclusion of the debriefing, the debriefi ng officer shall ensure a full written report,
containing a synopsis of events, identifi ed problems, and recommendations, is prepared.
2. This report shall be submitted through the chai n of command, to the affected office chief.
Upon approval of the affected office chief, copi es shall be sent to the COP, other office
chiefs, captains, watch commanders, the Communications Manager, and the PSU.
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