San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2011-2012
Does San Mateo County Need 13 Separate Police Dispatch Centers? Issue | Background | Findings | Conclusions |
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 15 findings
F1
In San Mateo County there are 15 different fire departments or districts, all of which use the Public Safety Communications Center for dispatch. The Redwood City Fire Station on Marshall Street is the back up facility for fire dispatch. Response The City of Menlo Park partially disagrees with this response. There are actually 18 different fire departments or districts, all of which use Public Safety Communications for dispatch. The 18 agencies are: Belmont Fire, Brisbane Fire*, Colma Fire Protection District, Cal Fire/San Mateo County Fire, Central County Fire (Burlingame and Hillsborough), Daly City Fire*, Foster City Fire**, Cal Fire (Half Moon Bay), Menlo Park Fire Protection District (Atherton, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park), Millbrae Fire*, Pacifica Fire, Coastside Fire Protection District, Redwood City Fire***, San Bruno Fire*, San Carlos Fire, San Mateo Fire**, South San Francisco Fire, and Woodside Fire Protection District. *Agencies are part of North County Fire Joint Powers Agreement. **Agencies share management. ***Redwood City Fire provides administrative oversight. The City of Menlo Park agrees that the Redwood City Fire Station on Marshall Street is the back-up facility for fire dispatch.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
“Off-peak hour” programs be implemented in which smaller cities contract with larger dispatch centers to take over dispatch during off-peak hours such that no city has fewer than two dispatchers on duty at any one time.
F2
There are 16 Police Departments in the County, including the San Mateo County Sheriff. Response The City of Menlo Park disagrees with this response: There are 15 municipal agencies, one (1) special district and the Sheriff’s Office for total of 17 law enforcement agencies. The 16 municipal agencies are: Daly City, Brisbane, Colma, Pacifica, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Belmont, Foster City, Redwood City, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto and Atherton. Broadmoor (a special district) and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office which also provide contract police services for the Cities of San Carlos, Millbrae and Half Moon Bay.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The City Council members take a leadership role on behalf of their constituents to drive consolidation of police dispatch across the County. The Grand Jury recommends to the County Board of Supervisors that it:
F3
The number ofpolice dispatch centers in the County has been reduced from 22 to 13 over the last 12 years. Response The City of Menlo Park disagrees with this finding. The number of police dispatch centers in San Mateo County has been reduced from 16 to 13 in the past 12 years. The cities/towns of Daly City, Colma, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Foster City, Belmont, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton and San Mateo County operate police dispatch centers. Public Safety Communications provides dispatch services for the Sheriff’s Office, contract police dispatch services for East Palo Alto, Broadmoor, Half Moon Bay, San Carlos, Millbrae, Woodside and Portola Valley. San Mateo P.D. provides contract police dispatch for Brisbane. South San Francisco provides contract police dispatch services for Pacifica and night/weekend service for Colma. The only dispatch centers to be contracted out in the past 12 years are Millbrae in 2005, San Carlos in 2006 and Pacifica in 2011.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a time frame for the matter to be prepared for
F4
For those cities operating their own dispatch centers the average cost per call is $30.04. For those cities contracting out dispatch the average costper call is $18.45. Some ofthe cost difference is due to the fact that dispatchers in many citiesperform additional duties while cities that contract out arejustpaying for dispatch services. Response The City of Menlo Park partially disagrees with this finding. Any attempt at comparing the cost per call would be complex when analyzing data received from 13 different dispatch centers. Duties and responsibilities vary among dispatch centers making it particularly difficult to present accurate comparative data. For example, the Menlo Park Records Bureau is open to the public during regular business hours. At all other times, including weekends and holidays, members of the community can directly access our dispatchers in the front lobby of the police department. Dispatchers issue overnight parking permits, process and collect payment for vehicle releases, answer the department’s business telephones, assist the public with reporting crimes and respond to a myriad of other routine community needs. As with other dispatch centers, these ancillary duties are included in their budgets and would need to be removed in order to provide an accurate comparison. Additionally, if dispatch services were contracted out, the cost for these ancillary services would remain. Regardless, the City of Menlo Park believes that consolidating dispatch centers can be a cost effective approach.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or reasonable, with an explanation therefore. The City of Menlo Park responds to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury’s report as follows:
F5
Pacifica and San Carlos each realized large cost savings when they contracted with other cities forpolice dispatch. These savings, taken together with the low costper call noted above for cities contracting out dispatch, demonstrate that consolidation ofpolice dispatch represents a significant cost reduction opportunity for cities with a standalone police dispatch function. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees that the consolidation of dispatch centers has the potential for cost savings.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Pacifica and San Carlos each realized large cost savings when they contracted with other cities forpolice dispatch. These savings, taken together with the low costper call noted above for cities contracting out dispatch, demonstrate that consolidation ofpolice dispatch represents a significant cost reduction opportunity for cities with a standalone police dispatch function. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees that the consolidation of dispatch centers has the potential for cost savings.
F6
Some municipalpolice dispatch centers have only one dispatcher on duty at certain times. Some have a minimum oftwo. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Some municipalpolice dispatch centers have only one dispatcher on duty at certain times. Some have a minimum oftwo. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding
F7
Largerpolice dispatch centers have dedicated dispatch teams, not distracted by tangential responsibilities, and tend to provide better trainingprograms for the intense dispatchjob. Response The City of Menlo Park partially disagrees with this finding. The Menlo Park Police Department meets or exceeds California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) standards. Menlo Park also uses the POST Learning Portal for WEB based training along with training on policies through Lexipol LLC and our Policy Manual. The Menlo Park Police Department has sufficient dispatch staff on-duty at all times to handle critical incidents. This also provides the flexibility to have dispatchers handle some clerical tasks during periods of low activity thus maximizing employee productivity.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Largerpolice dispatch centers have dedicated dispatch teams, not distracted by tangential responsibilities, and tend to provide better trainingprograms for the intense dispatchjob. Response The City of Menlo Park partially disagrees with this finding. The Menlo Park Police Department meets or exceeds California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) standards. Menlo Park also uses the POST Learning Portal for WEB based training along with training on policies through Lexipol LLC and our Policy Manual. The Menlo Park Police Department has sufficient dispatch staff on-duty at all times to handle critical incidents. This also provides the flexibility to have dispatchers handle some clerical tasks during periods of low activity thus maximizing employee productivity.
F8
The PSC has a minimum ofnine dispatchers on duty at all times. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding. There are tour (4) law enforcement consoles, three (3) Fire consoles, one (1) Emergency Medical Services console and one supervisor on duty at all times.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The PSC has a minimum ofnine dispatchers on duty at all times. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding. There are tour (4) law enforcement consoles, three (3) Fire consoles, one (1) Emergency Medical Services console and one supervisor on duty at all times.
F9
There is no back-up for the lawenforcement dispatch portion of the PSC, even though the PSC itselfis a back-up center for otherpolice dispatch centers in the County. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
There is no back-up for the lawenforcement dispatch portion of the PSC, even though the PSC itselfis a back-up center for otherpolice dispatch centers in the County. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding.
F10
No single dispatch site is currentlyavailable that can handle all police dispatch. Several dispatch centers, including South San Francisco, the City ofSan Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Parkand the PSC, have facilities with the capacity to expand to provide police dispatch services to additionaljurisdictions. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
No single dispatch site is currentlyavailable that can handle all police dispatch. Several dispatch centers, including South San Francisco, the City ofSan Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Parkand the PSC, have facilities with the capacity to expand to provide police dispatch services to additionaljurisdictions. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding.
F11
The County Sheriffowns, and the PSC operates, the “Green Channel” (a proprietaryradio communications channel) which enables interoperabilltyacross all lawenforcement departments and through which mutual aid from emergency-response agencies is achieved. Response The City of Menlo Park partially disagrees with this finding. The license holder of the “green” channel is the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. The “green” channel is considered a mutual aid asset. This asset is “owned” by all the cities in San Mateo County through the Office of Emergency Services Joint Powers Agreement. Maintenance and replacement costs are funded by City and County contributions to the Office of Emergency Services.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
The County Sheriffowns, and the PSC operates, the “Green Channel” (a proprietaryradio communications channel) which enables interoperabilltyacross all lawenforcement departments and through which mutual aid from emergency-response agencies is achieved. Response The City of Menlo Park partially disagrees with this finding. The license holder of the “green” channel is the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. The “green” channel is considered a mutual aid asset. This asset is “owned” by all the cities in San Mateo County through the Office of Emergency Services Joint Powers Agreement. Maintenance and replacement costs are funded by City and County contributions to the Office of Emergency Services.
F12
All those interviewed believe that dispatch consolidation is beneficial, andmost of those interviewedbelieve the County should have more than one dispatch center. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees in concept with the finding but cannot comment directly on interviews conducted by the Grand Jury.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
All those interviewed believe that dispatch consolidation is beneficial, andmost of those interviewedbelieve the County should have more than one dispatch center. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees in concept with the finding but cannot comment directly on interviews conducted by the Grand Jury.
F13
Factors that hinder consolidation include the perceivedneed for local dispatchers, the fact that some dispatchers also have other responsibilities, the incompatibility ofequipment, and differences in the levels ofservice offeredby various police departments. GrandJury interviews revealed that cities that have completed consolidation of police dispatch have found these issues to be manageable. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R13
Factors that hinder consolidation include the perceivedneed for local dispatchers, the fact that some dispatchers also have other responsibilities, the incompatibility ofequipment, and differences in the levels ofservice offeredby various police departments. GrandJury interviews revealed that cities that have completed consolidation of police dispatch have found these issues to be manageable. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding.
F14
Elected officials in some cities have been reluctant to consolidate police dispatch. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R14
Elected officials in some cities have been reluctant to consolidate police dispatch. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding.
F15
All cities that have outsourcedpolice dispatch services, either to other cities or to the County, pay considerably less for dispatch services without degradation ofservice. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding. However, most if not all cities that have outsourced dispatch services or contracted with San Mateo County Public Safety Communications have been smaller agencies. Larger agencies may not realize similar cost savings and actually end up paying more for similar levels of service. More study is required in this area.
Related Recommendations (1)
R15
All cities that have outsourcedpolice dispatch services, either to other cities or to the County, pay considerably less for dispatch services without degradation ofservice. Response The City of Menlo Park agrees with this finding. However, most if not all cities that have outsourced dispatch services or contracted with San Mateo County Public Safety Communications have been smaller agencies. Larger agencies may not realize similar cost savings and actually end up paying more for similar levels of service. More study is required in this area. Recommendations The Grand Jury recommends to the City Councils of the Cities of San Mateo County that:
Conclusions 10
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CL1 Page 11The consolidation of dispatch departments is fiscally prudent, and fiscally beneficial to all parties involved.
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CL2 Page 11The operation of dedicated dispatch centers in smaller jurisdictions is not cost effective and presents the challenges of providing adequate coverage during non-peak hours and sufficient coverage if a major emergency occurs.
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CL3 Page 11Dispatchers operate under intense pressure when responding to 9-1-1 calls. They should be well-trained and free from competing responsibilities during their work shifts.
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CL4 Page 11Dispatch consolidation enhances safety because it provides dispatch depth for handling large emergencies, justifies having a dedicated dispatch team not distracted by tangential responsibilities, and enables better training programs.
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CL5 Page 11Several dispatch centers can easily accommodate more dispatch consoles and represent excellent alternatives for other cites considering contracting for police dispatch services.
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CL6 Page 11A back-up arrangement with another facility for the law enforcement dispatch function in the Public Safety Communications Center should be developed.
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CL7 Page 11Most of the objections to consolidation are not significant obstacles in practice. These include the perceived need for proximity, the different levels of service police departments provide, and differences of equipment in a quickly changing technological environment.
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CL8 Page 11Interoperability with other regions of the state and nation can, and in the future will, improve response to natural and man-made disasters and facilitate the consolidation of public safety dispatch functions regionally.
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CL9 Page 11The Grand Jury believes that in the long term the County would be well-served by consolidating law enforcement dispatch to two to three regional centers within the County.
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CL10 Page 11City Councils should take a leadership role in driving consolidation of police dispatch centers. 11
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
County of San Mateo
Agency
Daly City
City