Policy Text
San Francisco Police Department 8.02
GENERAL ORDER Rev. 07/06/22
Eff: 8/18/22
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Hostage and Barricaded Suspect
8.02.01 PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish protocols for conducting hostage and barricaded
suspect operations, and to establish guidelines for the duties of off icers, 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 t his mission by using communication and de -escalation principles,
whenever feasible, before resorting to force. (See definition of De-Escalation , DGO
5.01(I)(C).)
8.02.02 DEFINITIONS
Hostage Incident: A hostage incident is a situation where a suspect holds another person
against his/her will and where the suspect would generally be in violation of 236 PC
(False Imprisonment).
Barricaded Suspect Incident : A barricaded suspect incident is a situation where a
person who is suspected of committing a criminal offense , intent upon evading arrest,
takes up a defensive position in a physical location, most often a structure or a vehicle,
that does not allow immediate police access – whether fortified or not – and is refusing or
ignoring police orders to exit, and who may be armed with a gun, explosive, or a weapon
capable of harming others and presents a deadly hazard to arresting officers.
Critical Incident: Any incident with a l ife-threatening situation, a defined terrain
objective and requiring a coordinated tactical response should be declared as a critical
incident. Procedures and guidelines for requesting the Tactical Unit/SWAT Team and
Hostage/Crisis Negotiations Team should be followed.
De-Escalat ion: Officers shall, when feasible, employ de -escalation techniques to
decrease the likelihood of the need to use force during an incident and to increase the
likelihood of voluntary compliance and decrease the intensity of the situation .
8.02.03 POLICY
Host age Incidents : In hostage situations, the SFPD consider s the lives of all parties
involved to be of the ut most importance and , whenever possible , the SFPD strives to
peacefully resolve hostage incident s through communication . If communications fail, the
SFPD is prepared and trained to use alternative methods to resolve the incident and the
safe relea se of the hostage(s) .
DGO 8.02
Rev. 07/06 /22
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Barricaded Suspect Incidents : In barricaded suspect incidents, it shall be the policy of
the SFPD to consi der the lives of all parties involved to be of the upmost importance.
The SFPD, w henever possible, strives to peacefully resolve barricaded suspect incidents
through communication . If communications fail, the SFPD is prepared and trained to use
alternativ e methods to resolve the incident .
The Incident Commander will have command authority and responsibility for all Hostage
and Barricaded Suspect Incidents until the incident is resolved or a transition of
command has occurred .
Negotiation Policy : The Hostage/Crisis Negotiations Team will evaluate available
information about all parties and the situation, and will advise the Incident and Tactical
Commander s. Hostage/Crisis negotiators may engage in negotiations with the suspect,
but deliveries or exchanges are subject to the approval of the Incident Commander.
Hostage/Crisis negotiators will not independently make any concessions. The SFPD,
whenever possibl e, should attempt to peacefully resolve the incident through
negotiations .
8.02.04 PROCEDURES
A. SERGEANT / OFFICE RS DUTIES : When confronted with a hostage or barricaded
suspect incident, follow these procedures:
1. Communications . If possible , attempt to communicate with the suspect to
establish that the suspect is still inside and make all attempts to seek a peaceful
resolution .
2. Evaluation . Request that your Lieutenant immediately respond to the scene. If
the Lieutenant is not available, r equest that the District Captain or Night Captain
respond .
3. Command Post . Establish an Incident Command Post and no tify DEM of its
location and safe avenue of approach.
4. Perimeter . Begin to e stablish a n inner perimeter of the location, which shall be
treated as a crime scene.
5. Notification . Notify the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and
Department Operations Center ( DOC) via police radio or telephone of the
situation.
6. Additional Resources . Assess need for additional resources such as Mental
Health Clinicians , Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) , Tactical Unit, Specialists, HNT,
and interpreter / bilingual officer if sub ject is LEP .
7. Supervisors . Create a plan to best achieve the mission and present to Incident
Commander for approval. A ssign specific roles to officers and , when personnel
allows, assign only singular responsibilities to officers to avoid splitting of
attention or duties .
DGO 8.02
Rev. 07/06 /22
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B. DISTRICT CAPTAIN OR LIEUTENANT DUTIES:
1. Evaluate . After arriving at the scene, evaluate the situation, confirm that a
hostage or barricaded suspect situation exists, and make proper notifications