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26-030 Department General Order 8.12 "In-Custody Deaths" Update Packet #134

The purpose of this directive is to announce the revision of Department General Order 8.12 In-Custody Deaths, adopted by the Police Commission on March 4, 2026. The Police Commission agreed to a 30-business day implementation period. Therefore, members will be held accountable for this policy starting April 15, 2026. All previous Department Notices with procedures not aligned with DGO 8.12 will be superseded by this policy when it goes into effect.

The updates in this policy include, but are not limited to, the following:

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26-029 Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO)

The purpose of this notice is to define Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVRO) and to establish guidelines on how to obtain and serve them. GVROs are intended to address “red flags,” or heightened risk factors for gun violence, including psychiatric treatment, violent behavior, threats, and gun ownership. GVROs enable law enforcement or family members to act against a potential safety threat solely on the basis of “red flags.”

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26-026 Requesting the Tactical Unit Call-Out Procedures

The purpose of this notice is to establish procedures and guidelines for requesting the Tactical Unit (TAC).

The primary mission of TAC is to respond to "tactical" critical incidents and high-risk search/arrest warrant operations. TAC is a lifesaving unit that attempts to resolve incidents through the use of planning, specialized training, and specialized equipment. TAC should be utilized during the following (this list is not all inclusive):

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26-025 Potentially Contaminated Vehicle Protocols

Members are reminded of the possibility of exposure to potentially infectious diseases when transporting arrestees in police vehicles. This department notice is also to serve as a reminder to members that form SFPD 348 has been discontinued and to recycle outdated forms.

Specific cleanup and decontamination procedures for police vehicles depend on how much and what kind of materials are present. As a simple precaution, members should visually inspect the vehicle after each arrestee is transported.