Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
5.16 Organized Crime and Vice Control: Operations
5.16.13 Conducting Organized Raids (Revised: 1/31/11)
A. Vice, narcotics and organized crime raids will be conducted in accordance with the
guidelines established in this section. Organized raids may originate in the Investigations
or Patrol Divisions.
B. These guidelines for organized raids are as follows:
1. When an organized raid involves a substantial commitment of staff, funds or time,
supervisors are required to submit written operational plans for approval to their
Division Captain or the Chief of Police, prior to the start of the operation. In cases
of emergency situations that do not allow time to prepare a written operational
plan, the strategy may be verbally presented to and approved by the Chief of
Police or designee. Authorization and coordination for the raid will be the
responsibility of the supervisor.
2. It will be the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all necessary
equipment is made available to personnel involved in the raid (e.g., radios, raid
jackets, necessary paperwork, ballistic vests).
3. It will be the responsibility of the reporting officer to prepare a detailed diagram
of the intended location. Prior to the execution of any raid or search warrant, a
briefing of all involved personnel will be held. During this briefing, assignments
will be made by the supervisor designating intended methods of approach, entry,
securing and leaving the location.
4. The reporting officer will be responsible for searching and seizing all evidence.
Another member of the team shall be designated to act as evidence recorder.
5. The supervisor and reporting officer will ensure all support units, including
medical personnel, have been briefed and all necessary equipment, including
communic ation equipment, has been distributed to each member of the team.
6. All arrests will be the responsibility of an arrest team. Suspects will be arrested by
using only that force minimally necessary to affect the arrest and preserve the
safety of the office rs and the suspects.