Chapter 25 - Public Safety Communications

Public Safety Communications Center Security

• Access is restricted to those with official business, through a security door only.
• Visitors must call to request entry, explain their reason, sign the visitor log, and be escorted.
• Visitors must sign out on the visitor log upon completing their business.
• The Communications Supervisor is immediately informed of all visitors.

Radio Standards and Protocol

• Sheriff's Office radio operations adhere to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) procedures and regulations.
• FCC regulations prohibit:
  • Superfluous signals, messages, or communications.
  • Profane, indecent, or obscene language.
  • Willful damage of radio apparatus.
  • Unlawful interference with other radio communications.
  • Interception and use of radio messages without permission.
  • Unnecessary or unidentified transmissions.
  • Transmissions causing harmful interference.
  • Adjustments, repairs, or alterations to transmitters by unauthorized personnel.
  • Allowing non-licensed technicians to repair radio equipment.
  • Denying FCC representatives access to radio equipment for inspection.
  • Failure to make equipment available for inspection at reasonable hours.
  • Transmitting a call signal, letter, or numeral not assigned to the station or vehicle.

Radio Issuance and Usage

• Officers are issued radios for law enforcement use.
• Personal radios are not authorized.
• Officers are responsible for the care of their assigned equipment.
• Officers are subject to disciplinary and/or criminal/civil penalties for unauthorized radio usage.

Radio System Operations

• The radio system aims for 95% countywide coverage using multiple strategically located tower sites.
• Two simulcast systems provide the primary coverage areas (one for County agencies, one for Police).
• Six remote sites provide additional coverage.
• Radios automatically switch between sites for reliable communication in standard operation.
• In a critical failure, the system may function in a fragmented state.
• Officers may need to adjust to different tower sites manually.
• Mutual aid talk groups are used if the simulcast system fails.
• Alpha names identify talk groups with the first few characters specifying the agency.
• Mutual aid talk groups for interagency coordination during incidents or large events exist, pre-planned or used on-the-fly.
• Requests for use of these talk groups should be made five days in advance with a schedule.
• Interagency communication is supported through preprogrammed "COMMON" talk groups via the last knob position in the radio.

Call Sign Structure

• Call signs help identify users and agencies.
• Different divisions, sections, or units may use numbered or alpha-numeric call signs.
• Call signs are reassigned to ensure maximum efficiency for the Sheriff's Office.
• Call sign listings available online or from the Public Safety Communications Manager.

Emergency Signaling

• Three alert tones indicate emergencies:
  • Alert 1 (monotone) for administrative alerts/weather.
  • Alert 2 (single tone-pulse) for BOLO, ATL, or wrong way drivers.
  • Alert 3 (dual tone-warble) for priority emergencies.
• Officer-initiated emergency tones display the officer's radio alias in red on dispatcher consoles.
• A designated LE ALERT group relays emergency information to internal and external agencies.

Telephone Etiquette

• The Public Safety Communications Center is the first point of contact for citizens.
• Calls should be answered quickly with professionalism and courtesy.
• The center uses twenty-four-hour time to avoid confusion.
• Precise date and time information should use exact times instead of general expressions.

Relaying Information

• Dispatchers relay requested information if airtime permits.
• Incorrect information will be reported to the Public Safety Communications Supervisor.
• Clear speech and professional pronunciation are important.
• Dispatchers use twenty-four-hour time.
• Dispatchers relay information such as name, race, sex, age, height, weight, hair, eyes, complexion, and physical characteristics for incidents or broadcasts.