Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 560.03
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560.03
MUTUAL AID REQUESTS
01-10-23
PURPOSE
To provide instructions, information, and safety guidelines for responding to, and requesting mutual aid .
POLICY
It is the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to promptly respond to mutual aid requests for assistance
by other law enforcement agencies, subject to available resources and consistent with the applicable laws and
policies of this department.
PROCEDURE
I. RESPO NDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT MUTUAL AID REQUESTS
A. GENERAL
1. The Department shall respond to requests for Law Enforcement Mutual Aid (LEMA).
2. The Sacramento County Sheriff will be both the Sacramento Operational Area Coordinator
and the Region IV Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Coordinator for the California’s Office of
Emergency Services (OES) Law Enforcement Division.
3. The Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program was enacted to ensure that
adequate resources are available to control a fire before a major disaster occurs. FMAG
assistance must be requested through the local fire agency, through Cal EMA, and
approved by FEMA. If an FMAG is approved by FEMA, 75% of our response costs may be
eligible for federal reimbursement when responding to fires.
B. PROCEDURES
1. When a mutual aid request has been made, the OOC Captain shall:
a. Notify the Chief.
b. Notify Fiscal Operations of the event and outside agency’s point of contact.
c. Notify the Fleet Unit.
d. Obtain the incident name and/or FMAG number if one has been est ablished.
e. Notify the designated lieutenant to coordinate the responding personnel. The
Homeland Security Lieutenant shall be the primary lieutenant for all LEMA
requests, and the Metro Traffic/Air Ops Lieutenant shall be secondary in the event
the primary is unavailable.
2. The designated lieutenant shall:
a. Identify personnel to respond and coordinate their response.
b. Act as a liaison with the Sacramento County Sheriff, the department supervisors and
officers sent to the incident, Department Watch Commanders, a nd the OOC Captain.
c. Ensure that the responding supervisor is responsible for completing the necessary
forms.
d. Coordinate the necessary patrol vehicles and equipment for the responding personnel.
3. Fiscal Operations shall be responsible for establishing a mutual aid MOU between the
requesting agency and the City; collecting all documentation as required by the FEMA
Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide; and submitting all claims for
reimbursement.
C. PERSONNEL SELE CTION
1. If mutual aid resources are being requested immediately, in concurrence with the Chief or
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 560.03
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their designee, the OOC Captain will direct the on -duty watch commander to send a
specified number of on -duty personnel to assist.
a. For mutual aid requests that are not immediate, or with operational periods that span
multiple days, the designated lieutenant will request personnel who are on days off
during the specific operational period to volunteer to respond.
b. Depending on the number of officers volunteering, t he designated lieutenant will select
the responding officers.
c. If there are a lack of volunteers to cover the request, the OOC Captain will determine , in
concurrence with the Chief or their designee, if on -duty personnel will respond , and if so,
what sectio n/units.
2. Supervisors -to-officer ratios .
a. Sergeant: One (1) sergeant shall be sent with every team of five (5) to ten (10) officers,
depending on the mission assessment and personnel availability.
b. Lieutenant: One (1) lieutenant shall be sent when more than two (2) sergeant teams are
assigned or when the lieutenant ’s assessment deems it necessary.
D. SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensure that the Emergency Related Activity Form (SPD 287) is filled out by each responding
officer, the Personnel Check In Form (ICS 21 1) is filled out for the group of personnel
responding for that shift, and the gas card check out log (SPD 291) is completed.
a. Two copies of the ICS 211 form should be brought to a mutual aid event and filled out.
One copy must be signed by the agency requ esting the mutual aid and returned to the
designated lieutenant upon returning. A second copy should be left with the requesting
agency. The ICS 211 form is critical, in that it is used to ensure accurate time reporting,
and reimbursement for the departm ent.
2. Patrol Vehicles – One (1) vehicle shall be utilized for every two (2) personnel, including
sergeants. When a LEMA request spans multiple days, the same patrol vehicles should be
used for the duration of the request when possible. Each vehicle shall be equipped with a
spare tire and jack.
3. When responding t o a LEMA request for fires, ensure N95 masks are provided to each
responding officer.
4. Obtain city gas cards for fueling in the event gas is not available at the LEMA location.
5. Before leaving, the responding supervisor shall ensure that each officer is logg ed on to their
MDT, on a mutual aid call, and the call shall include the following information:
a. Phone number for all sergeants responding to the LEMA.
b. Destination, proposed route to and from the destination, and estimated