26-101 San Francisco Police Department and San Francisco Fire Department Coordinated Mental Health Detentions
Department Notice
This document is not an official representation of the published policy. To access the official signed policy, please submit a request through our Public Records Request Portal.
The purpose of this Department Notice is to provide guidance to members when assisting San Francisco Fire Department (FIRE) personnel with mental health detentions.
FIRE has paramedics authorized to place subjects on mental health detentions pursuant to §5150 W&I code and SFHC §4103.
FIRE may request SFPD’s assistance if they believe the subject may become assaultive or if help is needed to safely detain or control the person.
When FIRE initiates the detention, they will be responsible for placing the hold, filing the form, documenting the incident, and transporting the subject.
SFPD members may use reasonable force to detain, control, or restrain a person during a mental health detention. Officers are responsible for determining if, when, and how force is used, consistent with Department policy.
DGO 5.01.07, Use of Force and Proper Control of Persons, provides the following example as a non-reportable “TYPE I” use of force:
- “Officers hold the wrist of a subject in crisis in place while paramedics secure the subject in a 4-point restraint.”
- “The use of hands or equipment to stop, move, direct, or otherwise exercise control of a person or situation.”
- “Non-injurious physical control holds to gain compliance that are not reasonably likely to cause pain.”
SFPD members are not required to complete an incident report solely because they assisted FIRE with a mental health detention when the only force used is categorized as non-reportable.
/s/
DERRICK J. LEW
Chief of Police