SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
120.01
ORGANIZATIONAL AND RANK STRUCTURE DEFINED
6-05-17
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to define the organizational and chain of command structure of the Department.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to maintain an organizational structure that provides
for the orderly and timely flow of information and decisions both up and down the chain of command.
PROCEDURE
A. DEFINITIONS
The structures of the Sacramento Police Department are outlined in the definitions in this order.
These definitions provide standardized terminology to use when discussing the organization and
operations of the Department.
1. DEPARTMENT – The Sacramento Police Department.
2. OFFICE – The primary subordinate organizational unit in the Department.
3. DIVISION – A primary subordinate organizational unit of an office. A division has Department-wide
responsibility for performing a specific function.
4. SECTION – Usually the secondary unit of an office, the primary unit of a division. A section is assigned
to perform part of the responsibility of the division.
5. UNIT – A subdivision of a section/district assigned to perform a specialized activity.
6. DETAIL/TEAM – A subordinate part of a unit designed to handle specific tasks or projects. The
assignment may be temporary or permanent.
7. AREA – A primary geographic subdivision of the Department. Currently, only the Office of Operations
uses this subdivision.
8. DISTRICT – A district is a primary geographical subdivision of an area and the primary organizational
unit of a watch.
9. BEAT – A beat is the primary geographical subdivision of a district.
10. WATCH – A primary organizational unit of an area command. A watch is a designated span of time
personnel are scheduled to work, i.e. Day, Mid, or Late.
B. CHAIN OF COMMAND
1. The Department shall have two separate but related ranking orders of authority to reflect the different
but interrelated operations of the Department.
2. Line operations of the Department that are involved in enforcement and emergency operations shall
function through the following chain of command:
a. Chief of Police (COP).
b. Deputy Chief of Police.
c. Captain.
d. Lieutenant.
e. Sergeant.
f. Officer.
3. Administrative Operations of the Department that are involved in administration shall function through
the following chain of command:
a. Chief of Police.
b. Deputy Chief.
c. Division Commander/Manager.
d. Section Commander/Administrator.
e. Unit Supervisor.
f. Shift/Team/Detail/Leader.
g. Other employees.
GO 120.01
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SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
C. COMMAND OF THE DEPARTMENT
1. The COP shall exercise command over all personnel within the Department.
2. In the absence of the COP, a deputy chief shall be designated as the “Acting Chief of Police” based on
succession to the command. NOTE: Succession as Acting Chief of Police is subject to approval by
the City Manager.
3. In the absence of the Chief or Deputy Chiefs, the Special Services Captain in the Office of the Chief
shall be designated as the ranking authority of the Department. This includes supervisory
responsibility for all personnel in the Department.
4. During a long-term absence or disability of the COP, a member of the Department designated by the
City Manager shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the COP.
D. DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION
1. The Department organizational chart, Diagram 120.01.01, illustrates the hierarchical structure of the
Sacramento Police Department.
2. All orders, instructions, reports and formal communications should adhere to the channels indicated on
this chart and in the chain of command except in cases of emergency.
GO 120.01
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Chief of Police
Office of
Operations
North
Command
Central
Command
East
Command
Office of
Specialized Services
Office of
Investigations
South
Command
Communications
Center
Detectives
Support
Services
Emergency
Services
Regional
Transit
Regional
Transit
Personnel
Services
Human
Resources
Admin. Ofcr.
Office of
the Chief
Homeland
Security
Special
Services
Metro
Special
Operations
Outreach
Administrative
Services
Police Admin.
Mgr.
Exec
Exec
Exec
Exec
Emergency
Comm. Mgr.
Major Crimes
PSIT
Info. Tech. Mgr.
Day Watch
Late Watch
Mid Watch
Day Watch
Day/Overlap
Supv. Disp.
CCAT
Applications
Development
Mid Watch
Bikes/
Mounted/
Marine
Mid Watch
Crime Alert
Help
Desk/Desktop
Support
Hiring
Late Watch
Crime
Suppression
Gang
Enforcement
Late Watch
Dispatch
Academy/
Felony Assaults/
Homicide
Systems
Engineering
Pipeline
Post Release
Community
Supervision
Crime
Suppression
Entertainment
Team
Impact
Team
Crime
Suppression
Regional Radio
Liaison (SRRCS)
Gangs
Mobile
Sustainment
Recruiting
School Resource
Officers
Peer
Support
Accounts
Payable
Justice for
Neighbors
Gang
Enforcement
CAD
Sustainment
Warrants/
Missing Persons
Supplemental
Employment
Public
Information
Office
Budget
Gang
Enforcement
Impact
Team
Mid Watch
Justice for
Neighbors
Mid/Late
Supv. Disp.
In-Service
Training
Vacant
Police Admin.
Mgr.
Investigative
Services
Crime
Analysis
Auto Theft
Evidence and
Property
Backgrounds
ABC/
Permits
Internal Affairs/
Prof. Standards
Lt.
Alarms
Criminal
Intelligence
Unit
Cops & Clergy
Fleet, Supply &
Logistics
Government
Affairs
Volunteer
Program
Grants &
Contract
Administration
Media
Services
Youth Services
Magnet/Cadet
Fiscal
Operations
Admin. Ofcr.
CPTED
Explosive
Ordnance
Disposal
Training
Academy
SWAT
Travel
Traffic/Air Ops
Justice for
Neighbors
EVOC
Air Ops
Family Abuse
Real Time
Crime Center
Field
Training
Forensic
Investigation
Records
Admin. Ofcr.
In-Service
Training
Neighborhood
Crimes
Sexual Assault
Child Abuse
Court
Liaison
Hospitals/
Natomas SROs
Crisis
Negotiation
Team
Deputy Chief
Captain
Lieutenant
Civilian Manager
K9
Section/Unit
Major Collision
Investigations
Traffic
Updated: January 2017