23-168 Department General Order 5.16 "Search Warrants" Update Packet #98

Department Notice

San Francisco Police Department

This document is not an official representation of the published policy. To access the official signed policy, please contact us at [email protected].

23-168
Published: 
Expire: 

The purpose of this notice is to announce the revision of Department General Order 5.16, Search Warrants, adopted by the Police Commission on September 6, 2023. The Police Commission agreed to a 90-business day implementation period and therefore, members will be held accountable for this policy starting January 19, 2024.

This policy contains substantial updates from the 1997 version including, but not limited to:

  • Increased internal review and approval for search warrants;
  • Mandated consultation for certain search warrants, including premises, by the District Attorney's Office;
  • Specific requirements for no-knock warrants and knock notice;
  • Consideration for the presence of youth at the target location;
  • Requirements to provide a copy of the warrant and property receipts upon service of the warrant;
  • Specific policies for special search warrants (special masters, medical records, journalists, tracking devices, non-consensual blood draws, out-of-county, CalECPA, geofence, wiretaps, etc.).

As part of the implementation of this policy, members assigned to the Investigations Bureau will be required to attend training. The training will be optional for all other members. All members, regardless of their assignment, will also be required to pass a short test available on PowerDMS.

Members are expected to have a working knowledge of all directives applicable to their respective assignments and comply with their provisions, per DGO 3.01, Written Communications. Members shall obey all written orders, policies, and procedures of the Department, per DGO 2.01, General Rules of Conduct.

Department General Order update packet #98 is attached to this notice and is available to members on the PowerDMS site.

/s/
WILLIAM SCOTT 
Chief of Police

Per DN 23-152, all sworn & non-sworn members shall electronically acknowledge this Department document in PowerDMS within (30) thirty calendar days of issuance. Members whose duties are relevant to this document shall be held responsible for compliance. Any questions regarding this policy should be sent to [email protected] who will provide additional information.