Chapter 25 - Public Safety Communications

Study Notes

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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