Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
4.2 Unbiased Law Enforcement (Revised: 6/4/24 )
A. The purpose of this policy is to reaffirm this agency’s commitment to unbiased law
enforcement, clarify the circumstances under which race can be used as a factor to establish
reasonable suspicion or probable cause and to reinforce procedures that serve to assure the
public that we are providing service and enforcing laws in a fair, equitable and
Constitutional manner, in accordance with PC § 13519.4.
B. Definitions
1. Unlawful or Improper Bias in Public Safety : The application of p olice authority
based on a common trait of a group , including , but not limited to : race, ethni city,
national origin, gender or gender identity /expression , sexual orientation, disability,
age, religion, occupation , immigration status, housing status and language fluency .
2. Vehicle Stop : Any traffic violation contact, suspicious veh icle contact or motorist
assist .
C. The Police Department neither condones nor tolerates the use of any unlawful or improper
bias in its enforcement programs because biased law enforcement may lead to allegations
of violation of citizens' Constitutional or civil rights and undermine s legitimate law
enforcement efforts . It also alienate s a significant percent age of the population , fosters
distrust of law enforcement by the communit y and invites media scrutiny, legislative action
and judicial intervention. Law enforcement personnel must have reasonable suspicion
support ed by specific verbalized facts that the p erson contacted regarding their
identification, ac tivity or location has been, is or is about to commit a violation of the law
or is currently presenting a th reat to the safety of himself/herself or others.
D. Procedure
1. All investigative detentions, v ehicle stops, arrests, searches and seizures of property
(including asset forfeiture procedures) by officers wi ll be based on a standard of
reasonable suspicion or probable cause as required by the California Constitution,
statutory authority and prevailing case law. Officers must be able to articulate
specific facts, circumstances and conclusio ns that support prob able cause or
reasonable suspicion for an arrest, vehicle stop or investigative detention.
2. Police personnel may take into account relevant characteristics of race, ethnic
background, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, economic
status, age, immigration status, housing status, language fluency and/or culture of
a specific suspect or suspects based on credible, reliable, locally -relevant
information that links a person of specific characteristics to a particular criminal
incident or links a specific series of crimes in an area to a group of individuals.
a. Except as provided above, no person shall be singled out or otherwise be
treated differently on account of his/her race, ethni city, national or igin,
gender or gender identity /expression , sexual orientation, disability, age,
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
religion, occupation , immigration status, housing status or language
fluency .
3. To avoid inappropriate perceptions of bias -based enforcement, personnel shall
utilize the following strategies when conducting a pedestrian or vehicle stop:
a. Be courteous, polite and professional
b. Introduce themselves by name and agency affiliation and explain to the
citizen the reason for the stop as soon as practical. In vehicle stops, this
should be done befor e asking for driver’s license, registration and proof of
insurance
c. Ensure that the length of the detention is no longer than necessary to take
appropriate action for the known or suspected offense
d. Answer any q uestions the citizen may have, including explaining the
options for the disposition of a traffic citation if relevant.
E. Training
1. All police officers, prior to joining the Department, shall receive training in cultural
diversity and discrimination at the POST academy.
2. All Department members shall receive documented training in cultural diversity
and related topics aimed at building trust and legitimacy in diverse communities
within 60 days of hire and biennially thereafter.
F. A review of activities with a potential for bias, including traffic enforcement contacts ,
citizen complaints and asset forfeiture efforts, will be completed annually to ensure bias -
based enforcement practices are not present. The review will be the respons ibility of the
Professional Standards Division (PSD) Commander .
G. Violations of this policy will be investigated and resolved in accordance General Order
3.43, “Internal Affairs Investigations.”