Policy Text
San Francisco Police Department 8.03
GENERAL ORDER Rev. 01/15/25
Eff. 03/21/25
Page 1 of 4
Crowd Control
8.03.01 PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish general policies and procedures regarding the Department’s response to public assemblies and specifies acceptable crowd control techniques
and levels of force to ensure the protection of the First Amendment rights of the crowd and the safety of the entire community.
No policy can anticipate every conceivable situation or exceptional circumstance officers may
face. In all circumstances , officers are expected to exercise sound judgment and provide safety
with respect.
8.03.02 DEFINITIONS
A. Crowd Management - Crowd management refers to the techniques used by law
enforcement in response to a known event, activity, or occurrence. In situations involving
crowd management, law enforcement agencies have the ability to assist in the planning, coordination, and management of the event.
B. Crowd Control - Crowd control is the law enforcement response to a protest or
gathering that has become unlawful and/ or violent. It may warrant arrest and/ or
deployment of dispersal tactics or even use of force.
C. Unlawful Assembly - Whenever two or more persons assemble together to [1] do an
unlawful act, or [2] do a lawful act in a violent, boisterous, or tumultuous manner, such
assembly is an unlawful assembly. [ Pen. Code § 407.] The terms “boisterous” and
“tumultuous” have been interpreted as conduct that poses a clear and present danger of imminent violence .
[In re Brown (1973) 9 Cal. 3d 612, 623.] .
D. Riot - Any use of force or violence , disturbing the public peace, or any threat to use force
or violence, if accompanied by immediate power of execution, by two or more persons acting together, and without authority of law, is a riot. [Pen. Code § 404(a).]
E. Duly Authorized Representative of Media - A person in possession of current, valid
credentials issued by the Department or other law enforcement agency, or other identification establishing representation of news media, whether print, television, or Internet media. "Freelance" media personnel, including reporters, photographers,
videographers, bloggers, or vloggers , possessing identification that establish es their
DGO 8.03
Rev. 01/ 15/25
Eff. 03/21/25
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ongoing affiliation or employment with a news outlet should be considered duly
authorized representatives of the media.
8.03.03 POLICY
A. Law Enforcement Objective - The law enforcement objective during crowd control
is to balance the group’s First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly while
prevent ing and reasonably enforc ing observed violations of the law.
B. Restrictions
1. Limit - Members shall not attempt to limit the size, location, time or activity at
any demonstration, march, protest, or picket unless there are articulable facts or
circumstances causing reasonable concern for public safety, public health, public
order, or the safe movement of persons in the area.
2. Restrictions/Control - Members shall not be affected by the content of the opinions
being expressed nor by the race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability or political affiliation of anyone exercising the ir lawful First Amendment rights.
C. Dispersal - California Penal Code Section 726 establishes the authority to disperse
unlawful assemblies and riots in the name of the people of the state. Crowds may only be dispersed or ordered to move when there are reasonable and articulable factors justifying
the order in accordance with law. Before giving the order to disperse, the event commander must consider whether a dispersal endangers the public or participants in the crowd and whether a reasonably less intrusive option to stop the unlawful behavior exists .
D. Dispersal Orders - Dispersal orders for the purpose of ordering people to leave an area
must satisfy the legal requirements and convey the importance of compliance. An officer is not required to use any particular words. However, the words must be sufficient to
inform a reasonable person that the officer i s acting in an official capacity and ordering
people to leave the area. Elements of an effective dispersal order include :
1. Audible announcements setting forth the pending consequences of continued
unlawful behavior, such as remaining at the location will subject individuals to arrest.
2. Members should provide sufficient time to disperse after the order with clear
directions and visible and ample means of egress.
3. To ensure participants can hear and understand the order to disperse, equipment appropriate to the size and noise of the crowd shall be used.
4. The order to disperse should be given repeatedly over a period of time and, if necessary, from a variety of locations and in multiple languages, if appropriate.
5. During dangerous and unlawful situations where the use of kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents are warranted, it is required that repeated audible announcements are made announcing the intent to use kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents
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Rev. 01/ 15/25
Eff. 03/21/25
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and the type to be used, when objectively reasonable to do so.
E. Arrests - A response to criminal conduct during a n assembly may be to cite or book those
individuals engaged in criminal conduct (see DGO 5.06, Citation Release). There may be