Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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4.3 Use of Force
4.3.7 Authorized Firearms and Ammunition (Revised: 6/16/23 )
INTERIM POLICY
Firearm safety shall be a primary concern of all sworn personnel whether on or off duty.
All firearms deployed and in use by UCPD officers shall be in compliance with the UCPD
Systemwide Weapons Inventory List. Weapons not approved for use by the UC shall not be
deployed. The list of approved weapons shall be reviewed and updated annually by t he Council of
Police Chiefs. Each campus Chief of Police shall personally approve the specific weapons
available to the department’s officers from the UCPD Systemwide Weapons Inventory List.
Approval : Each campus Chief of Police shall approve the specific weapons available to the
department’s officers from the UCPD Systemwide Weapons Inventory List.
Authorization : Firearms shall be used only by department personnel who have been authorized by
the Chief of Police, trained and who are qualified in their proficient operation. While on duty,
authorized personnel shall carry only firearms and ammunition issued or approved by the
department and in accordance with the Systemwide Weapons Inventory List.
Authorized Firearms − Off Duty : If an officer choos es to carry a weapon other than that approved
for on -duty use while off duty, the officer shall obtain written approval from the Chief of Police.
Carrying by Plainclothes Officers : Plainclothes officers carrying firearms shall also carry their
badges, except as authorized by the Chief of Police. If carrying their firearms displayed,
plainclothes officers shall also prominently display their badges.
Display of Firearms : Officers sha ll not unnecessarily draw, display or carelessly handle a firearm
at any time, while on or off duty.
Drawing or Exhibiting Firearms : Unnecessarily or prematurely drawing or exhibiting a firearm
limits an officer’s alternatives in controlling a situation, creates unnecessary anxiety on the part of
the public and may result in an unwarranted or accidental discharge of the firearm. Officers shall
not draw or exhibit a firearm unless the circumstances surrounding an incident creates a reasonable
belief that i t may be necessary to use the firearm in conformance with the policies on the use of
firearms. When a firearm is drawn or exhibited to gain compliance from a subject, the
circumstances shall be documented.
Firearms, Personal Use : It is not intended that these Universitywide Police Policies and
Administrative Procedures, specifically those in this chapter, preclude police officers from using
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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personally -owned firearms in hunting or in recognized sports activities in which firearms are
customarily used.
Inter-campus Use : Officers who are authorized to carry a weapon at their home campus shall not
be precluded from carrying that weapon when working at another campus.
Off-Duty Firearms : Officers shall not be required to carry firearms while off duty.
Off-Duty Firearm – Non-Sworn : Nothing in this General Order is intended to authorize non -sworn
personnel to carry firearms while on or off duty.
Off-Duty Firearms Proficiency : The Chief of Police shall establish a policy relating to proficiency
requirements for off -duty firearms.
Registration : Authorized personnel shall register with the department all personally -owned
firearms carried or used in the performance of their dutie s.
Officers should use sound discretion when drawing a firearm in public by considering the
following guidelines [Government Code § 7286(b) ]:
If the officer does not perceive an imminent threat but reasonably believes that the potential
for such threat exists (e.g., building search), firearms should generally be kept in the low -ready
or other position not directed toward an individual. If the officer reasonably believes that an
imminent threat exists based on the totality of circumstances presente d at the time (e.g., high -
risk stop, tactical entry, armed encounter), firearms may be directed toward such imminent
threat until the officer no longer perceives such threat. Once it is reasonably safe to do so,
officers should carefully secure all firearm s.
The Police Department will issue a firearm to all officers.
A. An officer, while on duty, will carry the Police Department -issued firearm unless they have
requested and been approved to carry a personally -owned firearm , in accordance with
General Ord er 4.3.8, “Personally -Owned Firearms.”
B. The firearm issued by the Police Department shall be either the Sig Sauer P365 9 mm semi -
automatic pistol with three 12 -round magazines or the Sig Sauer P320 RX 9 mm semi -
automatic pistol, Romeo1 with Suppressor Contrast 3 -dot Sights and three 17 -round
magazines. The Range Master shall record the issuance of the weapon in the “Firearms
Inventory Log.”
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Police Department General Orders
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C. The Police Department -issued ammunition will be factory -loaded, jacketed, hollow point,
as approved by the Ch ief of Police.
D. Plainclothes sworn personnel may carry a personally -owned firearm in 9 mm, .40 caliber
or .45 caliber, on duty, as their primary firearm. Sworn personnel shall follow the
provisions as outlined in General Order 4.3.8, “Personally -Owned Firearms”
E. Officers will carry a fully -loaded firearm while on duty with two additional fully -loaded
magazines to reload his/her firearm.
F. All officers are responsible for ensuring their duty firearm is in good working order and
for immediately rep orting any broken or malfunctioning weapon to the Watch Commander.
Only a Police Department armorer is authorized to work on or repair Police Department