Police Transparency

Message From the Chief

The San Bruno Police Department is committed to transparency as a cornerstone of public trust, ensuring that our community remains informed, engaged, and confident in how we serve. By operating openly and with accountability, we strengthen our partnership with the community and uphold the legitimacy essential to effective and compassionate community-oriented policing.

San Bruno Police Department Policy Manual

The Policy Manual of the San Bruno Police Department represents the policies and procedures established to guide the operations of this organization.

In order to manage the Police Department, and in consideration of the ever-changing nature of law enforcement, the Chief of Police may authorize exceptions or variances to specific policies where such action does not conflict with legal precedent or mandates.

Please note that due to periodic amendments to a variety of laws (Government Code, CA Penal Code, Business and Professions Code, CA Vehicle Code, etc.) as well as workplace practice, the following manual is subsequently updated throughout the year as is necessary and/or required by statute.

San Bruno Police Department Military Equipment Use Policy

***In compliance with California Government Code §7071(b) and San Bruno Municipal Code §2.52, the San Bruno Police Department has proposed updates to its Military Equipment Use Policy to include new equipment. The proposed policy (PDF)***

The San Bruno Police Department does not possess any tactical equipment that it has obtained from the military, nor does it possess any equipment that was designed for military use.  The current Policy (PDF)

Regardless, California Government Code §7071(b) requires that law enforcement agencies submit a proposed Military Equipment Use Policy to their governing body for approval. This is further required by San Bruno City Ordinance 2.52. 

California Government Code §7070 provides a list of equipment types that are considered to be “military equipment” for purposes of this policy requirement, and this Military Equipment Use Policy includes information for any such equipment types that are possessed by the San Bruno Police Department or reasonably likely to be deployed in San Bruno by other law enforcement partners.  

San Bruno Police Department Citizen RIMS

Citizen RIMS is the public portal for the San Bruno Police Department’s Records Information Management System (RIMS). It provides community members with access to real-time information about police activity, including calls for service, crime reports, and recent arrests. The system is designed to promote transparency, support public awareness, and make it easier for residents to engage with their police department through tools like security camera registration and vacation watch requests.

San Bruno Police Department Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Program

The San Bruno Police Department uses Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, powered by Flock Safety cameras, to enhance community safety by helping identify stolen vehicles, locate at-risk missing persons or other people of interest, and support investigations. This program operates under strict policies and procedures (click here for the policy) to ensure full compliance with legal requirements while safeguarding individual privacy rights, and additional information is available through the SBPD ALPR Transparency Portal.