ALERT FAQ

Anyone 16 years of age or older who lives, works or attends school in San Francisco is eligible to apply as an ALERT volunteer.

Yes. After clearing a basic background check (see below) you will be eligible to register for one of the four ALERT training classes offered per year. Program entry can be accomplished as follows:

1. If you are a graduate of the SFPD Community Police Academy program, complete one 8-hour class with ALERT.  or,
2. If you are NERT Certified**, complete one 8-hour class with ALERT.

Yes. In your role as an ALERT volunteer you will come into contact with confidential and privileged police information which must be protected and kept secure. As such you must go through the same basic background check that all civilian employees of the police department complete. Your ALERT ID will be valid for 4 years at a time. On each 4-year anniversary you will be required to re-take the Live Scan for a re-check of your background information.

Unfortunately, not. The background check must be performed by each agency at the time they wish to engage a volunteer or employee to ensure the most accurate information is available at that moment. Thus, SFPD must conduct the background check, even if you have just successfully passed one with another agency.

Not necessarily. Much will depend on the nature, disposition and date of the crime for which you were prosecuted. The most important thing is to be completely honest and forthright in completing the background check paperwork. If you don’t note a prosecution that background investigators subsequently discover, that will almost certainly exclude you.

Most initial training classes are conducted at the

SFPD Police Academy
350 Amber Drive
San Francisco, CA 94131

The basic ALERT training program consists of 8 hours of classroom and practical exercises at the SFPD Police Academy location. The training is taught in English, is very low impact and is suitable for everyone. It will include approximately 7 hours of classroom time and one hour of outdoor activity.

ALERT volunteers are required to attend at least ONE ALERT training drill per calendar year to remain on the active deployment (eligible) roster. A volunteer missing all quarterly training drills for two consecutive years will be required to attend a new member 8-hour training class in order to regain certification.

The drills will consist of various practical and classroom exercises to expand upon, reinforce and solidify the training and techniques taught during your initial certification. The drills also offer an opportunity for new skills and procedures to be introduced to volunteers as new requirements become necessary.

The drills will vary in duration but typically will be around 4-5 hours. The drill duration will be announced well ahead of the drill date to allow you to add the drill into your schedule. Attendance for the entire drill duration will be required in order to re-certify in that drill.

ALERT has two principal assembly and deployment locations for volunteers during a disaster activation. If you are WEST of Twin Peaks, make your way to:

Taraval Police Station
2345 24th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94116

If you are EAST of Twin Peaks, make your way to:

Special Operations Bureau
17th St & De Haro Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

The ALERT program will contact you by e-mail, text or voice-mail if any of these communications methods are available following a disaster. Alternatively, Emergency Broadcasts by radio stations will announce the activation of civilian volunteer Disaster Service Workers and may specifically mention ALERT volunteers.

You will be eligible to participate in our regular ALERT Drills as well as other training opportunities and multi-agency exercises. You can also take on supporting roles for ALERT by attending community events and meetings to promote ALERT and encourage new volunteers to join. Depending on your level of involvement with the ALERT program (and other factors), you may also be asked to consider becoming an ALERT Team Lead, where you would guide a group of ALERT volunteers in the successful performance of an assigned task or tasks. Should a disaster occur, and ALERT be activated, then you would report to one of the two assembly areas for assignment and deployment.

Absolutely. ALERT is significantly involved in pre-disaster planning, preparation and educational outreach. Your involvement and support of these efforts, your participation in our drills, and the knowledge you bring from your employment disaster response obligations are extremely valuable and you will have many opportunities to contribute in other ALERT functions beyond disaster response throughout the year.

You could be assigned to an administrative position at the Command Post (calling in all Police Reserves, signing-in volunteers, assisting with information in-take), or work closely with full-time and/or Reserve Police Officers who are deployed for traffic control, foot patrol of business and residential areas, report criminal activity, looting and property damage observation, work in partnership with other emergency organizations, assist with medical aid, deliver logistical supplies, secure resource locations, direct individuals to mass casualty and shelter locations, or assist at reunification centers.