NCJ Number
57956
Date Published
1978
Length
54 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY DESCRIBES AND RECOMMENDS ALTERNATIVE MODES OF ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION, FUNDING, AND ASSIGNMENT OF RADIO CHANNELS FOR A DIAL 911 COMMUNICATIONS AND DISPATCHING SYSTEM IN CALIF.
Abstract
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIF., HAS MANDATED THE INSTALLATION OF A DIAL 911 EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM BY DECEMBER 1984. THE EXISTING EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND DISPATCHING SYSTEMS ARE BASED ON DIALING 0 FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT OPERATORS NO LONGER HAVE AN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOCAL AREA. IN ORDER TO MEET THAT MANDATE AND STATEWIDE SPENDING CONSTRAINTS, THIS STUDY CONSIDERS ALTERNATIVES AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS IN FOUR AREAS: (1) THE COSTS, SECURITY, AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SYSTEM ARE AFFECTED BY THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINTS; (2) OVERALL COSTS AND EFFICIENCY WILL BE AFFECTED BY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATING ORGANIZATION; (3) SOME METHOD MUST BE USED FOR FUNDING THE CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM; (4) RADIO CHANNELS MUST BE ASSIGNED BEFORE THEY ARE TAKEN UP ELSEWHERE. THE MAJOR ALTERNATIVES ARE DESCRIBED WITH FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE FEATURES OF EACH. IN THIS CASE, THE ALTERNATIVES RECOMMENDED ARE (1) A SINGLE DISPATCH CENTER FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, (2) ADMINISTRATION BY THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, (3) FUNDING ON THE BASIS OF ASSESSED VALUATION WHICH IS THE USUAL METHOD OF PAYING FOR EXISTING CENTERS, FOR INITIAL COSTS AND TOTAL COUNTY FUNDING FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS; AND (4) THE USE OF CHANNELS 16 AND 17 FOR ALL COMMUNICATIONS, DESPITE ITS REQUIREMENT FOR A COMPLETE CHANGE OF EQUIPMENT. EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO PURSUE GRANTS FROM ALL AVAILABLE SOURCES TO DEFRAY INITIAL EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION COSTS. THE ESTIMATED COST ASSIGNMENTS FOR COMBINATIONS OF THE VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES AND THE RADIO ALTERNATIVES ARE TABULATED, AND FIGURES ARE INCLUDED SHOWING THE ORGANIZATION CHARTS FOR THE ORGANIZATION ALTERNATIVES. (TWB)