Office of Citizen Complaints

Policy Recommendations

Reference: 690-97

SUBJECT: Issuing business cards to SFPD officers

RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Department issue business cards to all SFPD officers who have public contact. Business cards would strengthen communication between officers of the department and the public, providing an easy means for officers to convey basic information about themselves to members of the public, and enabling officers to present, and the public to know and preserve, officers' identifying information in a business-like fashion.

BACKGROUND:
The complainant in this case had difficulty obtaining a vehicle release. The release of this particular vehicle was a complicated one, due to a language barrier between the complainant and officers involved. Other problems prevented the officers from releasing the car that day. The complainant asked for the officers' business cards, in case he needed to contact the officers in the future. The officers did not have business cards to give the complainant. It was found that the Department does not presently issue business cards to officers; rather, they must provide their own.

Case Investigated by: CHARLES GALLMAN, Senior Investigator Reviewed by: ROBERT JANISSE, Chief Investigator Approved by: MARY C. DUNLAP, Director Date: February 24, 1998

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