DGO5.24_Disengagement_Procedures

San Francisco Police Department GENERAL ORDER Disengagement Procedures 5.24.01 PURPOSE 5.24 The purpose of this order is to establish protocols for disengaging from a barricaded/isolated subject, and to establish guidelines for the duties of officers, supervisors, and superior officers. The San Francisco Police Department's highest priority remains safeguarding the life, dignity, and liberty of all persons. The Department is committed to accomplishing this mission by using strategic communication, crisis intervention, and de-escalation tactics, whenever feasible, before resorting to force. There may be incidents involving a person who is not a threat to officers or others that a responding officer or supervisor believes can be handled more safely using diseng agement. This policy recognizes that the legal authority to take a person into custody does not override law enforcement discretion to pursue a safer course of action. 5.24.02 DEFINITIONS Barr icaded Incident: An incident where a person maintains a position of cover or concealment and ignores or resists law enforcement personnel, and it is reasonable to believe the subject is armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon. If the person is not suspected of committing a criminal offense, the incident can be labeled as a Non-Criminal Barricade Incident. Isolated Subject Incident: An incident where a person is in an open outdoor area (e.g., park or sidewalk) and has minimal contact with the public, and ignores or resist law enforcement personnel, and it is reasonable to believe the subject is armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon. Disengagement: The tactical decision to leave, delay contact, delay custody and/ or plan to make contact at a different time and under different circumstances. De-escalation: The process of using strategies and techniques intended to decrease the intensity of the situation. Disengagement is a de-escalation strategy and technique. Strategic Communication: The use of verbal and non-verbal techniques to aid in controlling a situation and enhancing officer and community safety. Special Relationships: Special relationships can be created in the following circumstances: Page I of 6 Rev. 05/03/23 Eff:07/18/23 DGO5.24 Rev.05/03/23 1.Theofficermakesarepresentation(expressorimplied)thatisdetrimentallyrelied uponandcausesaforeseeableharm.Detrimentalrelianceoccurswhena member'spromiseorrepresentationreasonablyinducesapersontorelyuponit. 2.Theofficerengagesinanaffirmativeactthatincreasestheforeseeableriskof harmtotheindividual. Forexample,aspecialrelationshipcanbecreatedifanofficerpromisestocarefor someoneandthentheindividualislaterinjuredduetothemember'sfailureofcare.Asa generalrule,lawenforcementofficersonlyoweadutyofcaretoprotectmembersofthe generalpublicwhentheycreateaspecialrelationship. 5.24.03POLICY Disengagementshouldbeconsideredwhencontinuedcontactmightresultinanundue safetyrisktothebarricaded/isolatedsubject,membersofthecommunity,and/or departmentmembers.Disengagementisade-escalationstrategy.Beforedisengaging, memberswhorespondtoabarricaded/isolatedsubjectincidentareremindedtousede­ escalationstrategiesandtechniquessuchasformulateaplan,createdistance,usecover, attempttoestablishrapportthroughstrategiccommunication,whenfeasible.Members shouldutilizeavailableresourcestocornetoapeacefulresolutionbeforeinitiatingany disengagementprocedures.Whentherisktotheinvolvedsubject,membersofthe community,orrespondingofficersoutweighstheneedforimmediateaction,members shouldconsiderdisengagementtoimproveofficersafety,mitigatethreats,maintain publictrust,andpreservelife. Examplesofdisengagementscenariosinclude,butarenotlimitedto,apersonincrisis incidentandtherearenoimminentriskstothepublic,crimeswhenthesuspectisknown andthearrestcanbedelayed,orcrimeswhenthevictimrefusestosignaCitizen'sArrest Formand/orrefuseslawenforcementservices. 05.24.04PROCEDURES A.Officer'sDuties-Theseniorofficerofthefirstarrivingunitisresponsibleforthe commandandcontroloftheincidentunlessasupervisorassignsthisresponsibilityto anothermember,oramoreexperiencedofficerdeclaresandtakesresponsibility.This officershallhavethelatitudeandauthoritytoassignanyotherofficerstoany assignmentortask. Whenconfrontedwithabarricaded/isolatedsubject,membersshallfollowthebelow procedures,iffeasible: 1.ObservationBarringanyexigentcircumstances,theprimaryobjectiveofthe respondingofficer(s)willbetoobservetheincidentfromadistance,assessthe natureofthecall,andgathertheappropriatepersonnelandresources.When membersareconfrontedwithabarricadedincidentinaphysicallocation, Page2of6 DGO5.24 Rev.05/03/23 membersshouldnotmakeentryabsentawarrantorexceptionstotheFourth Amendment. 2.Containment-Begintoestablishpropercontainmentofthesubjectandlocation. 3.ReactTeamEstablishateamofofficerstocoordinateand