Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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4.6 Patrol Operations
4.6.11 Response to Calls for Service (Issued: 6/25/07)
A. When the ECC receives a call requiring the presence of an officer, they will dispatch the
appropriate officer(s) to respond to the call. The ECC will provide the officer(s) with
information regarding the nature of the call and any other pertinent information that will
assist the officer(s) in determining the urgency of the call.
B. When an officer receives a call for service, he/she will evaluate the c all to assess the
seriousness of the situation and determine the appropriate response to the call. Nothing in
this policy relieves an officer from responsibility to operate a vehicle with due regard for
the safety of all persons.
C. Officers shall comply with California statutes regarding the use and operation of
emergency vehicles.
D. Calls for service fall into one of two categories:
1. Emergencies
a. Emergency calls indicate a response to an actual or potential emergency
situation by an officer. The officer should immediately proceed directly in
a safe manner to the call by the most expedient route.
b. Emergency calls will generally necessitate a “Code 3” or emergency
response. Code 3 responses will normally be made with the use of
emergency lights and siren. An officer may elect to deactivate the
emergency lights when in close proximity to the scene as statute allows.
(1) Although California statutes e xempt emergency vehicles from the
normal rules (including speed laws) of the road during
emergencies, officers must still drive with due regard for the safety
of all persons and remember that California statutes do not protect
the emergency vehicle operato r from the consequences of arbitrary
disregard for the rules of the road (see § 41.2.8, Subsections A.1.a -
e). Officers must consider vehicular and pedestrian traffic, road
and weather conditions and geographical location when responding
to an emergency.
c. In most situations, the two closest units will be assigned to respond Code
3. An assigned officer/field supervisor may adjust the number of units
responding Code 3. Officer(s) responding to a situation Code 3 will notify
Dispatch of his/her location and t hat he/she is responding Code 3.
d. The officer must terminate the Code 3 response when such response is no
longer warranted. The Watch Commander/Field Supervisor may terminate
the officer’s Code 3 response at any time. Dispatchers must immediately
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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relay t o officers any information that indicates the situation is no longer an
emergency.
2. Non-Emergencies
Non-emergency calls fall into one of two categories:
a. Non-emergency calls necessitating a direct response will require a “Code
2” response. Officers sh ould immediately proceed, directly and safely, to
the call by the most expedient route. Officers shall comply with California
statutes regarding rules of the road while responding to a situation Code 2.
b. Non-emergency calls necessitating a timely, yet no t direct response will
require a “Code 1” response. If allowed by the nature of the call, an officer
may choose to handle a Code 1 call via telephone contact. During a Code
1 response, officer(s) are authorized to conduct other police business of a
more pr essing nature while en route to the call. Officer(s) should not keep
complainants waiting for unreasonable lengths of time. If an officer
decides that other police business takes priority over a previously
dispatched call, the officer will notify Dispatch.
(1) Officers shall comply with California Statutes regarding rules of
the road while responding to a situation Code 1.
E. Priorities and Dispatch Procedure
1. When the ECC receives a call requiring the presence of an officer, they will
dispatch an appro priate officer to respond to the call. The dispatcher will provide
the officer with information regarding the nature of the call and any other
pertinent information that will assist the officer in determining the appropriate
response to the call.
2. If an officer decides that a higher priority call requires them to hold a previously
dispatched call, the officer will notify Dispatch that the original call is being held
and that they are responding to the higher priority call.
3. When an officer receives a call for service, it will be the officer’s responsibility to
evaluate the seriousness of the situation and determine the appropriate response to
the call. Officers shall operate police vehicles in a safe and lawful manner and in
accordance with Police Dep artment policy and California statutes. An officer will
advise Dispatch via voice radio when responding Code 3.
4. The Watch Commander will change the officer’s response priority if, in the
supervisor’s judgment, the officer’s response is inappropriate.
5. An officer will not respond to another jurisdiction’s call for service unless
assistance is requested by the other jurisdiction and the officer has approval to do
so by the Watch Commander.
6. The alert tone will be used by the dispatcher to alert office r(s) that an important
radio message is to follow. This will not indicate the need for response nor
designate the code. The alert tone will be used prior to all calls involving life -
threatening situations. The alert tone may also be used prior to other imp ortant
radio messages.
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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