Policy Text
San Francisco Police Department 5.18
GENERAL ORDER Rev. 09/ 17/25
Eff. 11/ 21/25
Page 1 of 9
Persons in Custody and Transportation
5.18.01 PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to outline protocols for the care of persons in police custody,
including security and transportation.
5.18.02 DEFINITIONS
A. Medical Assessment – Examination of a person in custody by emergency medical
personnel.
B. Medical Evaluation – Examination of a person in custody by a physician at a medical
facility.
C. Person in Custody – Person who has been lawfully detained, arrested, or who is in
protective custody.
D. Positional Asphyxia – Situating a person in a manner that would restrict their airway
and reduces the ability to sustain adequate breathing. This includes, without limitation,
the use of any physical restraint that causes a person’s respiratory airway to be
compressed or impairs the person’s breathing or respiratory capacity, including any
action in which pressure or body weight is unreasonably applied against a restrained
person’s neck, torso, or back, or positioning a restrained person without reasonable monitoring for signs of asphyxia.
E. Mobility Device – These include, but are not limited to, braces, canes, crutches, walkers,
wheelchairs, motorized scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices such as
"Segways."
5.18.03 POLICY
It is the policy of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) that members take necessary
steps to ensure the safety and well -being of persons in their custody. Members shall transport
persons in custody in a manner consistent with law.
5.18.04 VEHICLE INSPECTION AND SECURITY
A. Inspections - Members shall inspect the custody compartment of the vehicle they are
assigned prior to and immediately after any custody transport to ensure the following:
DGO 5.18
Rev. 09/ 17/25
Eff. 11/ 21/25
Page 2 of 9
1. Any weapons, contraband, or personal items are located, secured, and
documented appropriately and, if applicable, in compliance with DGO 6.02,
Physical Evidence and Scene Preservation .
2. All seatbelts and door locks are in working order.
B. Security - During transport of a person in custody in a vehicle equipped with a
custody compartment, members shall ensure the locking mechanisms are engaged.
5.18.05 CONTROL AND RESTRAINT
A. Handcuffing – Approved handcuffing techniques are listed in the SFPD Arrest and
Control Manual.
1. Persons who are transported in a police vehicle shall be handcuffed with their
hands to the rear, unless one of the following criteria is met:
a. The person has a physical condition which precludes this technique.
b. In situations where people are handcuffed together during multiple means of
transport .
c. A supervisor has authorized an alternative option.
d. During e xigent circumstances.
2. Members may use an additional set of handcuffs i n situations where one pair of
handcuffs does not appear sufficient to restrain the individual or may cause unreasonable discomfort during transportation due to the person’s size.
B. Searching – Approved searching techniques are listed in the SFPD Arrest and
Control Manual.
1. A transporting member shall thoroughly search a person who is in custody for
weapons, prior to transport .
2. Searches should be conducted by a member of the same or preferred gender of
the person being searched, when prac tical and in accordance with DGO 5.22,
Interacting with Transgender, Gender -Variant, and Nonbinary Individuals .
3. In exigent circumstances when members are unable to complete a careful and
thorough search of a subject prior to transport, members must complete the
search as soon as practical.
C. Other Restraint Devices – Persons under arrest who have demonstrated violent
actions or tendencies, must be restrained using Department approved restraint methods to minimize self -inflicted injuries and/or injuries to members of the public,
DGO 5.18
Rev. 09/ 17/25
Eff. 11/ 21/25
Page 3 of 9
medical, fire and police personnel. In addition to handcuffs, the following alternate
restraint methods may be used on a case -by-case basis:
1. Hobble Cord ( i.e. Ripp Restraint Cord ’)
2. Flex Cuffs
3. Soft Restraints (usually used by the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) or
Paramedics)
5.18.06 CARE & SAFETY OF ILL / INJURED
A. Ill/Injured – Persons in custody who claim to be ill or injured and request medical
attention should be medically assessed or evaluated prior to transport to a holding
facility. In these circumstances, members may elect to transport the person in custody
to a medical facility.
1. Members shall not transport persons who appear to be experiencing any of the
following conditions, e xcept in ext