1. Purpose & Mission
The San Andreas Marshal Service exists to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community through meaningful, memorable, and immersive interactions.
This division is engagement-first, not enforcement-driven. Marshals are intended to enhance public trust, improve atmosphere, and create organic roleplay moments that support the broader public safety ecosystem.
Marshals may assist on scenes and respond to calls when appropriate, but this is secondary to their primary engagement mission.
2. Core Role Philosophy
Marshals operate under the following guiding principles:
- Engagement over enforcement
- Support over control
- Presence over authority
- Quality interactions over call volume
Marshals are not evaluated by how often they appear on scenes, but by how well they contribute when they do.
3. Scope of Responsibilities
Marshals are authorized to:
- Conduct community outreach and public engagement
- Participate in public events, gatherings, and informal interactions
- Respond to calls or insert into active scenes at their discretion, when their presence adds value
- Assist with communication, de-escalation, and civilian interaction on scenes
- Observe, document, and relay information when appropriate
- Complete reports when required based on involvement
Participation in active scenes is optional, not expected.
4. Scene Participation & Call Response
4.1 Optional Scene Involvement
Marshals may:
- Respond to active calls
- Insert themselves into ongoing scenes as a support role
- Be present during enforcement activity
Only when their presence:
- Enhances civilian interaction
- Improves clarity or de-escalation
- Supports immersion without disrupting operations
Marshals should ask themselves one question before inserting: “Am I adding value here, or just adding myself?”
4.2 Scene Conduct Rules
When on an active scene, Marshals shall:
- Defer immediately to the primary responding agency
- Avoid directing officers or influencing tactics
- Avoid questioning or critiquing officer decisions
- Focus on civilian-facing interaction unless directed otherwise
- Exit the scene when their role is complete or unnecessary
Marshals do not assume authority by virtue of being present.
5. Prohibited Conduct
Marshals shall not:
- Treat call response as their primary duty
- Chase or stack calls
- Insert themselves solely for visibility or relevance
- Act as supervisors, commanders, or scene controllers
- Override or countermand sworn personnel
- Use their title to influence outcomes
Repeated enforcement-first behavior is grounds for corrective action.
6. Authority & Chain of Command
- Marshals report directly to the Commissioners Office
- Marshals do not fall under PD command structures
- Marshals do not outrank sworn officers on scenes
All internal issues, concerns, or escalations are routed through:
- Commissioners Office
- Designated Marshal leadership, if assigned
7. Reporting Requirements
Reports are required when:
- A Marshal becomes directly involved in an incident
- A civilian complaint or concern is raised
- A scene has legal, administrative, or oversight implications
Reports must be:
- Objective
- Limited to direct involvement
- Free of speculation or secondhand commentary
8. Professional Conduct & Presence
Marshals are a public-facing government presence. They are expected to:
- Be approachable and calm
- Avoid grandstanding or title-based authority
- Respect agency boundaries at all times
- Understand that restraint builds trust faster than control
Professionalism is measured by how little disruption they create, not how visible they are.
9. Performance & Evaluation
Marshal performance is assessed on:
- Quality of engagement
- Judgment in scene participation
- Respect for sworn personnel roles
- Ability to enhance immersion without interference
Call volume and enforcement presence are not performance metrics.
Marshal Service Expectations & Direction
What This Division Is
- Engagement-first
- Optional scene support
- Civilian-focused
- Trust-building
What This Division Is Not
- A standard patrol unit
- A supervisory body
- A call-response replacement
- An enforcement shortcut
Behavioral Expectations Going Forward
- Choose scenes intentionally, not impulsively
- Prioritize interaction over intervention
- Support officers without overshadowing them
- Leave scenes cleanly and early when appropriate
- Remember that presence alone can be contribution enough
Where We Go From Here
This SOP establishes clarity and flexibility at the same time. Next steps include:
- Reinforcing engagement-based training
- Clarifying when and how Marshals should enter scenes
- Encouraging thoughtful discretion over automatic response
- Rebuilding consistent expectations with partner agencies
The Marshal Service succeeds when:
- Civilians feel comfortable engaging
- Officers feel supported, not challenged
- Scenes feel richer, not heavier
That balance is the mission.