Policy Text
Policy
325San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentMajor Incident Notification - 1Major Incident Notification
325.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to members of this department in determining
when, how and to whom notification of major incidents should be made.
325.2 POLICY
The San Luis Obispo Police Department recognizes that certain incidents should be brought to the
attention of supervisors or other specified personnel of this department to facilitate the coordination
of activities and ensure that inquiries from the media and the public may be properly addressed.
325.3 MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR NOTIFICATION
Most situations where the media show a strong interest are also of interest to the Chief of Police
and the affected Division Chief. The following list of incident types is provided as a guide for
notification and is not intended to be all inclusive:
•Homicides
•Traffic accidents with fatalities
•Officer-involved shooting - on or off duty (see Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths
Policy for special notifications)
•Significant injury or death to employee - on or off duty
•Death of a prominent Name of your jurisdiction: official
•Arrest of a department employee or prominent Name of your jurisdiction: official
•Aircraft crash with major damage and/or injury or death
•In-custody deaths
325.4 WATCH COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITY
The Watch Commander is responsible for making the appropriate notifications. The Watch
Commander shall make reasonable attempts to obtain as much information on the incident as
possible before notification. The Watch Commander shall attempt to make the notifications as
soon as practicable. Notification should be made by calling the home telephone number first and
then by any other available contact numbers.
325.4.1 STAFF NOTIFICATION
In the event an incident occurs described in the Major Incident Notification Policy, the Chief of
Police shall be notified along with the affected Division Chief and the Detective Lieutenant if that
bureau is affected.
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Major Incident Notification
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentMajor Incident Notification - 2325.4.2 DETECTIVE NOTIFICATION
If the incident requires that a detective respond from home, the immediate supervisor of the
appropriate detail shall be contacted who will then contact the appropriate detective.
325.4.3 TRAFFIC BUREAU NOTIFICATION
In the event of a traffic fatality or major injury, the Traffic Sergeant shall be notified who will then
contact the appropriate accident investigator. The Traffic Sergeant will notify the Traffic Lieutenant.
325.4.4 PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO)
The Public Information Officer shall be called after members of staff have been notified that it
appears the media may have a significant interest in the incident.