Welcome to the Vice Unit

Welcome to the Los Santos Police Department Vice Unit. You have been selected to serve in one of the Department's most demanding and consequential divisions. The work you will undertake here directly confronts the narcotics and contraband trade that fuels violence, corruption, and disorder across the city. This is not ordinary patrol work, and the standard expected of you reflects that.

This handbook is the authoritative reference for every officer assigned to the Vice Unit. It defines who we are, how we are organised, the conduct expected of you, and the procedures you are required to follow in the field. You are expected to read it in full before your first operational shift and to treat it as a living reference throughout your service. Ignorance of its contents will not excuse a failure to comply with it.

The Vice Unit operates on three guiding principles: professionalism in every public and internal interaction, accountability for every action taken under the authority of the badge, and thoroughness in the documentation of every seizure, arrest, and operation. An investigation is only as strong as the record that supports it. Sloppy work undermines not only your own credibility but the integrity of the entire division.

Mission & Mandate

The Vice Unit is the division of the Los Santos Police Department charged with the systematic disruption and dismantling of the illegal narcotics and contraband trade within the city. Our mandate extends from the street-level dealer to the trafficking networks that supply them. We do not simply react to crime; we identify it, map it, and dismantle it at its source.

Our operational objectives are as follows:

• Identify and concentrate enforcement on areas with high densities of narcotics activity.
• Maintain a visible deterrent presence in known hotspots through directed patrol.
• Conduct intelligence-led operations targeting supply chains rather than isolated offenders.
• Build and maintain accurate records of suspects, seizures, and recurring offenders.
• Support allied Department divisions and outside agencies during joint operations.

Chain of Command

The Vice Unit operates under a strict chain of command. Every officer answers to the rank above them. Lawful orders issued by a superior officer are to be followed without delay; where an order is believed to be unlawful or improper, the officer is to comply where safe to do so and report the matter to the next level of command at the earliest opportunity. Disagreements are raised through the chain, not in the field and not in public.

Code of Conduct

Every officer of the Vice Unit represents the Los Santos Police Department at all times while in uniform or acting under its authority. Your conduct reflects on the entire division. The following standards are mandatory and are not subject to personal interpretation.

• Professional bearing. Treat every individual — civilian, suspect, or colleague — with respect and impartiality, regardless of their status or suspected involvement in criminal activity. Personal bias has no place in enforcement decisions.
• Integrity of evidence. Evidence and seized property are to be handled, recorded, and reported truthfully and completely. The falsification, planting, theft, or destruction of evidence is the gravest offence an officer of this unit can commit and will result in immediate removal and referral.
• Lawful authority. Officers exercise only the authority granted to them by law and Department policy. Detentions, searches, and arrests must rest on proper legal grounds at all times.
• Confidentiality. Operational intelligence, suspect records, and the identities of undercover personnel are strictly confidential and must never be disclosed outside authorised channels.
• Accountability. Officers are responsible for every action taken under the badge. Mistakes are to be reported promptly and honestly. A reported error is a correctable one; a concealed error is misconduct.
• Reporting of misconduct. Any officer who witnesses a breach of conduct is obligated to report it to a senior officer without delay. Silence in the face of misconduct is itself a breach.

Officers found in breach of this code may face disciplinary action up to and including suspension of duties, demotion, or permanent removal from the Vice Unit, depending on the severity of the breach.

Standard Operating Procedures

The following procedures govern routine enforcement activity. They exist to protect officers, preserve the integrity of evidence, and ensure that every action withstands scrutiny. Deviation is permitted only where officer or public safety demands it, and any deviation must be documented.

Use of Force

The use of force is among the most serious responsibilities an officer carries. Force is to be applied only where necessary, and only in proportion to the threat faced. Every application of force must be justifiable under the Force Matrix and must be capable of withstanding review.

• Necessity. Force is used only when no reasonable lesser alternative exists to control a situation or effect a lawful arrest.
• Proportionality. The degree of force used must correspond to the level of resistance or threat encountered. Force must de-escalate as resistance diminishes.
• De-escalation. Officers are expected to attempt to de-escalate wherever circumstances and safety permit. Verbal control is always the preferred first option.
• Deadly force. Deadly force is authorised only where there is an imminent threat to the life of an officer or member of the public, and only as a last resort.
• Reporting. Any significant use of force must be reported to a supervisor and documented. Unjustified or excessive force is a serious breach of conduct and may constitute a criminal offence.

Radio Procedures

The radio is the backbone of unit coordination. Clear, disciplined radio use keeps officers safe and operations organised. All radio traffic must be professional, concise, and use the standard ten-code system. The in-game terminal automatically synchronises your radio codes to the Dispatch Centre on the portal.

Broadcast a radio code using the /r command followed by the code and any detail, for example /r 10-26 Ocean Docks blue sedan. A full list of codes is available in game via /vicecodes and on the FAQ page.

• Announce your status changes — going on duty (10-8), beginning a stop (10-26), arriving on scene (10-23), and going off duty (10-6).
• Always broadcast before approaching a stop or entering a hazardous situation, so dispatch and nearby units know your location.
• Request backup early. 10-88 requests cover; 11-99a signals an officer in extreme danger and demands immediate response from all available units.
• Close out your situations. Broadcast Code 4 (no further assistance needed), 10-99 (end of situation), or 10-15 (suspect in custody) so the call is cleared from dispatch.
• Keep the channel clear during active operations. Non-essential traffic waits.

Documentation Standards

Documentation is not an administrative afterthought — it is the permanent record on which prosecutions, promotions, and the credibility of this division rest. Every officer is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their own records.

• Log every seizure and arrest promptly, while details are fresh. A delayed log is an unreliable log.
• Record the full and correct name of each suspect, their complete and lawful charges, and the location of the operation.
• Attach evidence wherever it exists. A seizure supported by photographic evidence is far stronger than one without.
• Credit assisting officers accurately. Where other members of the unit contributed to an arrest, record them in the assisting officers field.
• Use mission briefings to document planned and completed operations, and link the resulting seizure logs to them.
• Never overstate or understate what occurred. The record must reflect the truth of the operation, no more and no less.

Vehicles & Equipment

Vice Unit officers are authorised to operate the following divisional vehicles during active duty. All vehicles are Department property and must be used strictly for official law enforcement purposes. Officers are accountable for the condition of any vehicle in their charge.

Key Areas of Interest

Intelligence has identified the following locations as priority zones for narcotics enforcement. Officers should maintain heightened awareness in these areas and direct patrol activity towards them.

The Vice Unit System

The Vice Unit operates an integrated record system spanning an in-game terminal and this web portal. The terminal, opened in game with /vice, allows officers to broadcast radio codes, log seizures, and check unit statistics from the field. The portal provides the full record: seizure logs, suspect files, dispatch history, operations, and analytics.

New officers should ensure their badge is linked in game using /vicebadge and that their portal account has been verified by command. Detailed step-by-step guidance on every function — logging seizures, broadcasting codes, managing suspects, and signing up for operations — is maintained on the FAQ page, which every officer should consult before their first shift.