DGO8.04 "Critical Incident Response Team"

8.04.01 PURPOSE

The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is an extension of the Behavioral Science Unit (BSU). The purpose of CIRT is to ensure adequate BSU response coverage for a variety of incidents. This order establishes policies and procedures for supporting department members who are involved in shootings, collisions, and other critical traumatic events.

8.04.02 POLICY

A. NOTIFICATION

As soon as practicable, the Critical Incident Response Team shall be notified under the circumstances included below. Upon notification, CIRT will evaluate the situation and determine how to best facilitate support. It is the responsibility of the incident commander to ensure that this notification is made.

1. Officer involved shooting
2. In-custody death
3. Use of force where suspect is admitted to the hospital
4. Injury to or death of a police officer
5. Vehicle collisions involving serious injury, death, or children
6. Serious Injury or death of an infant or child
7. Occupational exposures to bodily fluids
8. Prisoner/custody escape
9. Discharge of a firearm

Any member or supervisor is encouraged to contact CIRT any time they believe a response might be warranted even if it does not fall within the above listed categories. Nothing in this General Order shall preclude any member or supervisor from contacting the Critical Incident Response Team.

B. MANDATORY RESPONSE

1. Upon receiving notification that one of the following covered incidents has occurred, it is mandated that CIRT shall respond:
   1. Officer involved shooting
   2. In-custody death
   3. Use of force directly causing injury requiring admission to the hospital or a supervisor determines the use of force appears unreasonable and resulted in serious bodily injury.
2. Incidents requiring a mandatory CIRT response shall include a directed referral to the Behavioral Science Unit.

C. DEBRIEFING

If a CIRT debrief is deemed appropriate, the on-call team members will coordinate with the Behavioral Science Unit to schedule a debrief within 72 hours of the incident or as soon as practical. The following debriefs shall involve a licensed, BSU vetted clinician: OIS, serious injury or death of a police officer, and in custody deaths.

D. CONFIDENTIALITY

1. Critical Incident Response Team members shall follow the guidelines established in DGO 11.04, PEER Support Program, Sections I., D., which establishes confidentiality when engaged in peer support communication.
2. Confidentiality is also provided by California State Assembly Bill 1117: Pursuant to California Government Code Section 8669.4(a) "A law enforcement personnel, whether or not a party to an action, has a right to refuse to disclose, and to prevent another from disclosing, a confidential communication between the law enforcement personnel and a peer support team member made while the peer support team member was providing peer support services, or a confidential communication made to a crisis hotline or crisis referral service."

8.04.03 PROCEDURES

A. NOTIFICATION - The on call Critical Incident Response Team leads can be notified through the Department Operations Center at any time. 

B. CIRT TRAINING - The OIC of the BSU will develop an annual training and meeting plan for CIRT. 

C. CIRT SELF-DEPLOYMENT - For incident types listed in Section 8.04.02 of this policy, CIRT members shall check in with BSU before deploying. Self-deployment without approval in these circumstances is prohibited. 

CIRT members may self-deploy in all other circumstances. 

D. Critical Incident Response Team members should be aware that the confidentiality provisions of California Government Code Section 8669.4(a) are limited by subdivision (b) of Section 8669.

References 
DGO 5.01 Use of Force 
DGO 6.04 Assaults on Police Officers 
DGO 6.05 Death Cases 
DGO 8.01 Critical Incident Evaluation & Notification 
DGO 11.04 Peer Support Program
DGO 11.13 Directed and Recommended Referrals to the SFPD Behavioral Science Unit