Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
1
10.1 Special Operations
10.1.13 Observer Program (Revised: 7/18/18)
A. Purpose and Background
1. The Observer Program originated in 1964 during the Free Speech Movement
when campus faculty members acted as observers. Their intent was to prevent
perceived excessive use of force by police at demonstrations.
2. Today the Observer Program provides trained students and staff to serve as
neutral witnesses at protests and demonstrations. Observers are present when
there is the potential for violations of campus regulations, illegal activities or
police action. The activities witnessed may result in a co mplaint, or disciplinary,
civil or criminal action.
3. The role of the observer is to watch and report impartially on acts observed. Their
presence has b een proven to help calm the situation. Observers do not involve
themselves in the activities. They do not interpret or evaluate actions or behaviors.
Observers do not p rovide information, give advice or mediate conflict.
B. Management
1. The UCSF Police Department Special Events Lieutenant manages the Observer
Program and is responsible for training and coordinating observers. The Special
Events Lieutenant or designee will:
a. Provide observer badges for identification and obtain a signed waiver fr om
each observer for each event
b. Inform observers to whom, from the events management team , he/she will
be assigned and th e date/time he/she will be needed
c. Ensure that each observer complete s the Observer Report and submit s all
Observer Repo rts after each event.
2. The Director of Student Life is responsible for recruiting a pool of student and
staff observers.
a. Prior to a new year (January -December ), the Director of Student Life will
recruit and assign observers for each Regents meeting , as needed by the
Special Events Lieutenant.
b. There will be a minimum of two observers for each event or Regents
meeting.
c. The Director of Student Life will provide the Special Events Lieutenant
with the name and contact information for each observer assigned to
participate during the year.
C. Training
Observers participate in a one -hour training session prior to the event. Training topics
include the observer’s role, neutrality, report writing, dealing with difficult people, police
practices, comp laint procedures, safety issues and site logistics.
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
2
D. Reporting
1. Observers write a report after each event. These reports become critical when:
a. An incident appears to be illegal or in v iolation of Campus regulations
b. The in cident may lead to a complaint or
c. The act may lead to disciplinary, civil or criminal action.
2. Most commonly, these reports are used in investigations of complaints/crimes
against police and in student conduct cases. Observers are required to write a
report even if no conflict occurred at the event. Reports must include the name of
the event, date of event, time of observer shift from beginning to end, location,
approxi mate number of persons involved and incident description.
3. Observer reports becom e part of the police report and subject to all applicable
public record laws. Observer reports are provided solely a nd directly to the
appropriate U niversity officials , upon request (e.g., the Chancellor or the
Chancellor’s delegated representatives, Risk Mana gement, Legal, Student Affairs,
the Chief of Police). These reports are accessible once the investigation is
complete and in accordance with the law and University policy. Reports are
accessible to anyone named in them when the reports are introduced a s evidence
in student or police conduct proceedings, or in civil or criminal proceedings.