Communications

INFORMATION SERVICES DIVISION:  

Information Services encompasses the Technical Services Division, Records Division and the Communications Division. This vital part of the organization utilizes the latest developments in technology to ensure the swift and accurate exchange of information.

COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION:

The Communications Division is comprised of two dispatch centers; the Valley Control Center (VCC) and Desert Control Center (DCC). Each center serves as the primary 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for its respective geographic location. There are currently 135 full time dispatch personnel assigned to the division; including 115 dispatchers, 17 dispatch supervisors, one captain, two lieutenants and one secretary.

Recently, the previous Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) system was replaced by the new Tiburon CAD System. Another essential improvement was the addition of five new dispatch supervisor positions, eighteen new dispatcher positions and the creation of the new Dispatcher III (Trainer) position.

The Communications Division Mission Statement is as follows:

We are committed to operating a highly effective Communications Center with an emphasis on customer service and officer safety, staffed by highly qualified, well trained dispatchers, who are supported by a dedicated management team that places a high degree of importance on professionalism, integrity and teamwork, and strives to develop innovative ways to meet the current and future demands of public safety dispatching.

VALLEY CONTROL CENTER:

The Valley Control Center is Region I's primary communications center. VCC is located in Rialto , adjacent to the county's Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Fire Dispatch Center (CONFIRE), and 800 MHz Radio Division.

VCC serves the unincorporated arrears of Bloomington, Fontana, Lytle Creek, Mentone, Montclair, Mount Baldy, San Bernardino, Upland, Yucaipa , and the mountain communities surrounding the Twin Peaks Station, as well as Court Services. It also provides dispatching services for the incorporated cities of Chino Hills, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, Big Bear, and Yucaipa . Additionally, VCC provides contract dispatching services to other agencies such as, the District Attorney's Office, Code Enforcement, Probation, Welfare Fraud, San Bernardino Community College, and Chaffey College.

Valley Control Center operates with a staff of 77 full time employees; including nine Dispatch Supervisors and sixty-six Dispatchers. In 2005, operating as Region I's primary 9-1-1 PSAP, VCC answered nearly 162,000 emergency 9-1-1 calls. In terms of the overall total number of incoming calls to the center, VCC's dedicated professionals handled over 594,000 calls for service.

In addition to the daily activities of operating an emergency dispatch center, VCC also handled over 60 special events/operations. These events included such things as SMASH sweeps, Narcotic's operations, California Speedway, DUI check points and saturation patrols.

DESERT CONTROL CENTER :

The Desert Control Center (DCC) is Region II's primary 9-1-1 answering point. DCC is located at the Victor Valley Station. DCC is currently staffed with 58 full time employees; including eight (8) Dispatch Supervisors and forty-nine (49) Dispatchers.

DCC provides dispatching services for county patrol operations in the Victor Valley, Barstow , Trona, Baker, Colorado River, and the Morongo Basin areas. It also serves the incorporated cities of Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Needles, 29 Palms, and Yucca Valley . As with the Valley Control Center, DCC also provided dispatch services for numerous Special Operations throughout the year.

In 2005, DCC answered nearly 174,000 emergency 9-1-1 calls. During the same period of time, they handled over 580,000 total incoming telephone calls. Despite this incredibly high number of calls for service, DCC did a remarkable job managing this tremendous workload throughout the year.

As the population and calls for service in San Bernardino County continues to rise, both dispatch centers are committed towards looking for new and innovative ways to continue providing quality dispatch services to the Sheriff's Department and the communities it serves.

Rod Torres
Captain

Valley Communications

Desert Communications