Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
1
4.18 Traffic Ancillary Services
4.18.6 Escorts (Issued: 6/25/07)
A. Escorts of Emergency Vehicles
1. Officers will not initiate emergency escorts without first receiving clearance by a
Watch Commander and notifying the dispatcher.
2. Emergency vehicles, particularly ambulances, will not be escorted by officers
except under extreme circumstances with supervisory approval. Two emergency
vehicles traveling together more than double the hazard to traffic.
3. An exception would be to escort an emerge ncy vehicle to a hospital when the
driver of the emergency vehicle is not familiar with the location of the hospital or
when the emergency equipment on the vehicle needing to be escorted is
malfunctioning. In unclear situations, the Watch Commander shall b e consulted.
4. Civilian vehicles generally will not receive emergency escorts, as officers render
appropriate aid, summon an ambulance or transport civilians in their patrol
vehicle. However officers can provide emergency escort for a civilian vehicle
with the Watch Commander’s approval.
B. Scheduled Escorts
1. Legitimate requests for scheduled law enforcement escort services include, but
are not necessarily limited to, those associated with motorcades and other traffic
of public officials and dignitaries , oversize vehicles, parades, highway
construction and maintenance vehicles, and vehicles with hazardous or unusual
cargo.
2. When a request for scheduled escort service is approved, the trip route will be
established in advance, along with the maximum spe ed to be maintained along
each segment of the route.
3. Point traffic control will be established, as appropriate, at locations along the
scheduled route sufficient to ensure safe passage.
4. Tactical control of the escort will be assigned to the Watch Com mander in
accordance with the complexity of the escort services being provided. The tactical
controller will set the pace of the escort in accordance with prevailing conditions
and under no circumstances exceeding the pre -specified maximum speed for any
segment of the route. The tactical controller will terminate the escort and resume
normal vehicular operation when, in their opinion, conditions are such that
continuation of the escort would constitute unacceptable risk to the public.
5. The use of patrol vehicle emergency equipment during the escort will be specified
in advance by the appropriate Watch Commander.
a. Requests for non -emergency escorts should be referred to the FSD Captain
or designee. Escort requests for funerals, oversized loads/veh icles or
hazardous materials should be referred to private agencies equipped for
such details.
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
2
b. Escorts for public officials or other special requests are to be approved in
advance by the FSD Captain.