Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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4.5 Patrol: Organization and Administration
4.5.17 Observer Programs (Revised: 2/17/12)
A. The Police Department offers the following programs in order to provide individuals the
opportunity to gain understanding into the work of the Department:
1. Field Patrol Ride -A-Long: A ride -a-long is defined as an occasion when an
individual is allowed t o ride as an observing passenger in a patrol vehicle with a
uniformed police officer. Ride -a-longs are for observations purposes only, to
provide insight into the activities and responsibilities of field operations.
2. Emergency Communications Center Sit -A-Long: A sit -a-long is defined as an
occasion when an individual is allowed to directly observe the operations of the
Emergency Communication Center. Sit -a-longs are for observations purposes
only, to provide insight into the activities and responsibilit ies of the Emergency
Communications Center
3. Student Observer: A student observer is a representative from one of the two
student governments, the Associated Students of UCSF and the Graduate
Students’ Association. Participation in events as a student observer is for
observation purposes only, to provide insight into the activities and
responsibilities of personnel during major campus events and provide the student
observer the opportunity to provide feedback to the Police Department after the
event.
4. Staff Observer: A staff observer is a representative from UCSF staff or faculty.
Participation in events as a staff observer is for observation purposes only, to
provide insight into the activities and responsibilities of personnel during major
campus events and provide the staff observer the opportunity to provide feedback
to the Police Department after the event.
B. The Police Department will accept all reasonable requests for ride -a-longs and sit -a-
longs. All requests for ride -a-longs shall be directed to the watch commander. All
requests for sit -a-longs shall be directed to the Emergency Communications Center
Manage r.
1. All requests should be made in writing and contain the person's name, date of
birth, address, date and time of request, and telephone number(s).
2. Upon receipt of the request, the watch commander or Emergency
Communications Center Manager shall ascertain the feasibility in meeting the
desired ride -a-long or sit -a-long request.
3. Notification of all ride -a-longs and sit -a-longs shall be forwarded to the
appropriate division manager. Recruits in the Field Training Officer program or
Dispatch ers in the Communications Training program shall not be assigned
observers.
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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C. Hold Harmless Agreement
1. All observers shall complete a Hold Harmless Agreement. A copy of this
agreement shall be retained by the observer and a file copy retained by the Po lice
Department's Professional Standards Division.
D. Notifications
1. Ride -a-longs and sit -a-longs are valuable tools in the recruitment of future
members of the department and are also methods of acquainting private citizens
with operations of the Pol ice Department. The Watch Commander or Emergency
Communications Center Manager will notify the requestor of the approval or
disapproval of their requests. If the request is not approved, the individual will be
given a reasonable explanation of the denial along with alternative dates and
times, if appropriate.
E. Eligibility
The following factors may be considered in disqualifying a person from participation in
the observer program:
1. The Police Department will not approve any requests for individuals under the age of
eighteen (18) years without parental consent. In no case shall persons under fourteen
(14) years be allowed to participate.
2. Prior criminal history or any pending criminal action. All observers are subject to a
criminal history check.
3. Pending claims or lawsuits against the University or Police Department.
F. Personal Conduct of Observers:
1. An individual in the observer program shall be informed that their participation is
limited to an "Observer Status" and shall remain so unless their assistance is
summoned by a police officer of this department to assist per California Penal
Code Section 150.
2. Observers shall be directed to follow the directions of their escorting of ficer at all
times.
3. Observers shall not be allowed to access confidential or law enforcement sensitive
information.
4. Observers shall not disseminate information about law enforcement officer
activity while participating as an observer. This includes posting information to
social media sites, texting, phoning, or sending information by email.
5. Observers shall be informed that should they witness any type of incident they
will be required to provide a statement to investigating officers and subsequen tly
may be subpoenaed to testify in court as a witness.
6. Observers shall not to take photographs or make any type of recordings while
participating in the program as these would be collected as evidence. Exceptions
may be made for members of the media an d only with the written approval of the
Chief of Police.
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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7. All observers shall dress conservatively in business casual attire.
a. Peace Officer Ride -a-Longs
(1) Peace officers shall wear civilian attire.
(2) Peace officers shall comply with those instructions or directions
from the on -duty Watch Commander.
(3) Peace officers shall be checked by the Watch Commander for the
type of weapon (if any) they are armed with and document the
following information on the Hold Harmless Agreement:
(a) Description
(b) Make
(c) Serial Number
(d) Model Number
b