Police Commission Approves Revised DGO to Emphasize Mental‑health‑first response and CIT coordination

The San Francisco Police Commission on Jan. 15 approved a revised Department General Order 6.14 that directs officers to prioritize de‑escalation, diversion and collaboration with non‑law‑enforcement mental‑health resources when responding to adults in crisis.

The move, approved unanimously by the six commissioners present, advances changes tied to state law updates and labor bargaining; the commission also accepted a friendly amendment replacing the phrase “psychiatric evaluation” with “mental health assessment.”

The new DGO, presented by Lieutenant Anderson of the San Francisco Police Department, “centers on a humane, compassionate approach, emphasizes de‑escalation, diversion and reduces stigma around mental‑health issues,” and directs officers to involve specialized behavioral‑health resources unless an individual is violent or otherwise poses a public‑safety risk. Lieutenant Anderson said the revisions incorporate changes from SB 43 and expand the definition of “gravely disabled” to account for severe substance‑use disorder.

Commissioners debated the language used to describe officer actions when a third party requests an evaluation. Commissioner Juan Yanez suggested — and Lieutenant Anderson accepted — replacing the phrase “psychiatric evaluation” with “mental health assessment” to avoid implying that officers are conducting clinical diagnoses in the field. Commissioner Rafael Benedicto made the motion to approve…