San Francisco Police Department Policy Manual

The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) publishes a Policy and Procedure Manual that covers patrol operations, investigations, use of force, traffic operations, supervision, community policing, and internal processes. The manual is written for one of the nation’s most complex urban policing environments—with unique challenges such as high-density neighborhoods, significant tourist and transit activity, and heavy media/oversight presence.

For promotion candidates at SFPD, start by building a chapter-based index of the manual. Flag the environments most likely to appear on exams (use of force, protests, transit incidents, high tourism events, internal investigations). Build scenario flashcards that reflect San Francisco’s complexities—large events, transit system, high-profile judicial oversight. Write short “Supervisor action plan” paragraphs for each major topic: what you will do, who you will notify, how you will document.

Key SFPD policy topics to focus on:

- Use of Force, Crowd Management & Critical Incident Response.
- Transit, Airport and Tourist Area Operations – special focus given city environment.
- Vehicle Pursuits & Emergency Response in dense urban traffic.
- Community Policing, Bias-Free Policing & Media/Transparency Obligations.
- Internal Investigations, Audits, and Officer Discipline – with high oversight and public scrutiny.

Studying these topics through the lens of how a supervisor should act provides a strong edge.

For SFPD promotional testing:

1. Practice scenario questions around unique local challenges: e.g., mass transit incidents, large events near the bayfront, protests or demonstrations, and high-risk traffic corridors.
2. Embody the supervisor role when studying: ask “What’s my immediate action? Who do I notify? What report do I review or approve?”
3. Build comparison tables of “city-wide vs. patrol unit vs. supervisor” responsibilities. These frequently appear as subtle differences on tests.
4. Review SFPD recent policy bulletins or changes that may reflect oversight transformations and could show up in exams.