Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
8.1 Communications: Administration
8.1.3 Authority and Responsibilities (Revised : 8/20/21 )
Duties of public safety dispatcher s include the following:
A. Answering incoming phone calls, evaluating the situation, obtaining pertinent
information and determining appropriate public safety response.
B. Providing citizens with alternative solutions or resources for situations not requiring a
police response.
C. Responding to requests from divisions within the Police Department and other
departments of the University to access computer files, page personnel, make necessary
phone calls or dispatch additional personnel.
D. Dispatchers may use any available police officer, regardless of beat assignment, to meet
the funda mental objective of expedient and professional service. Established procedures
for dispatching personnel outside of their assigned beat shall be followed. Patrol
supervisors shall work with dispatchers and keep them informed of any response changes
(e.g., officers who are not to be dispatched to call due to report overload). Patrol
supervisors may override a dispatcher’s decision when appropriate and necessary.
E. Any concerns or objections to a particular dispatch call shall be forwarded in writing by
the Watch Commander or shift supervisor to the TSD Director .
F. Patrol supervisors will provide the ECC with officer beat assignments , by phone , at the
beginning of their shift.