5-09/440.00 - Identification Photographs of Street Gang Members



Photographs shall not be taken by members of this Department, in non-custodial situations, of known or suspected street gang members to be used for photographic show-ups and suspect identifications except in the following cases:

  • Personnel shall be assigned to investigative Units actively involved in conducting criminal investigations of reported crimes; and
  • Personnel shall be assigned to Units specifically assigned the responsibility of preventing and suppressing gang violence.

In the above exceptions, personnel shall be prepared to justify, in detail, the purpose and necessity for such non-custodial photographs, e.g., photograph needed to eliminate a person as a possible suspect in a reported crime.

In any investigation involving the taking of non-custodial identification photographs, the person to be photographed must willingly consent to the procedure.  In no event shall Department personnel physically force or coerce anyone to be photographed in non-custodial situations.

The above does not affect the current process of photographing an arrestee.