Policy Text
San Francisco Police Department 5.01
GENERAL ORDER Rev. 09/ 04/24
Eff. 10/ 19/24
Page 1 of 25
Use of Force Policy and Proper Control of a Person
The San Francisco Police Department’s highest priority is safeguarding the life, dignity and
liberty of all persons. Officers shall demonstrate this principle in their daily interactions with the community they are sworn to protect and serve. The Department is committed to accomplishing this mission with respect and minimal reliance on the use of force by using rapport -building
communication, crisis intervention, and de -escalation tactics before resorting to force, whenever
feasible. This Department General Order (DGO) builds upon the Supreme Court’s broad
principles in Graham v. Connor (1989) 490 U.S. 386 and is more restrictive than the
constitutional standard and state law. The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics requires all sworn law enforcement officers to carry out their duties with courtesy, respect, professionalism, and to never emplo y unnecessary force. These are key factors in maintaining legitimacy with the
community and safeguarding the public’s trust.
5.01.01 PURPOSE
This order establishes policies and reporting procedures regarding the use of force. The purpose of the policy is to guide an officer’s decisions regarding the use and application of force to ensure such applications are used only to effect arrest or lawful detentions or to bring a situation under legitimate control and assist the Department in achieving its highest priority. No policy can anticipate every conceivable situation or exceptional circumstance which officers may face. In all circumstances, officers are expected to exercise sound j udgment and critical decision
making when using force options. It is the policy of the Department to review rigorously every instance in which a firearm is discharged, including exceptional circumstances, on a case -by-case
basis to evaluate all facts to determine if the discharge is within policy pursuant to D GO 3.10
Firearm Discharge Review Board.
5.01.02 POLICY
A. SAFEGUARDING HUMAN LIFE AND DIGNITY - The authority to use force is a
serious responsibility given to peace officers by the people who expect them to exercise that authority judiciously and with respect for human rights, dignity and life.
B. ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION - Communication with non- compliant subjects is often
most effective when officers establish rapport, use the proper voice intonation, ask questions and provide advice to defuse conflict and achieve voluntary compliance before resort ing to force options.
C. DE-ESCALATION - Officers shall, when feasible, employ de -escalation
strategies and
techniques to mitigate the need to use a higher level of force and to increase the likelihood of a
peaceful resolution . Officers shall, when feasible, attempt to build rapport and consider the
DGO 5.01
Rev. 09/04/24
Eff. 10/19/24
Page 2 of 25
possible reasons why a subject may be noncompliant. This information may not make the
subject any less dangerous. However, understanding a subject’s mental or physical state may enable
officers to influence the subject’s behavior thereby allowing officers to use de -escalation strategies
and techniques while maintaining public and officer safety. Officers who act to de -escalate an
incident, which can delay taking a subject into custody, while keeping the public and officers safe,
will not be found to have ne glected their duty. They will be found to have fulfilled it.
D. PROPORTIONALITY - When determining the appropriate level of force, officers shall,
when feasible, balance the severity of the offense committed and the level of resistance,
based on the totality of the circumstances known to or perceived by the officer at the time, with the level of force used and its likely injury outcome. It is particularly important that
officers apply proportionality and critical decision making when encountering an armed
subject.
E. CRISIS INTERVENTION - When feasible, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) -certified
officers shall respond to calls for service involving individuals in mental or behavioral
health crisis pursuant to DGO 5.21, The Crisis Intervention Team Response to Person in Crisis Calls for Service.
F. DUTY TO INTERCEDE - When an officer recognizes that another officer is engaging in
excessive use of force and has opportunity to prevent it, the officer has a duty to intervene
and prevent the harm from occurring. Members shall immediately report potential excessive force to a superior officer when present and observing another member using force that the member believes to be beyond that which is necessary, a s determined by an
objectively reasonable officer under the circumstances based upon the totality of information actually known to the officer. (See Section 7286 of the Government Code)
G. FAIR AND UNBIASED POLICING - Members shall carry out their duties, including the
use of force, in a manner that is fair and unbiased pursuant to DGO 5.17, Bias -Free
Policing Policy.
H. VULNERABLE POPULATIONS - The use of force against vulnerable populations –
including children, elderly persons, pregnant women, people with physical and mental disabilities and people with limited English proficiency – can undermine public trust and should be used as a last resort, when all other reasonable means have been exhausted.
5.01.03 DEFINITIONS
A. FEASIBLE - Reasonably capable of being done or carried out under the circumstances to
successfully achieve the arrest or lawful objective without increasing risk to the officer or another person. Cal. Government Code § Section 7286(a)(2).
B. MINIMAL AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESS