The following is submitted in response to the 2023-24 Grand Jury Report as it pertains to the Sheriff's Dispatch Center.*

The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Dispatch Center has many well-documented structural deficiencies that render the facility unable to meet current and future electrical, technological, and safety needs. Response: Agree The current 911 communication center is located at 28 N. Lower Sunset Drive, in Sonora. The facility has been evaluated on numerous occasions and is consistent with the Grand Jury's findings. Back-up power is unstable and unreliable. There are multiple documented incidences of power outages affecting 911 services in Tuolumne County, which encompasses ambulance, fire, and law enforcement response. There is currently no operational fire alarm for the 911 communications, which there are two documented incidences of fire, or risk of fire due to the strained electrical infrastructure. Climate control is of great concern due to the 911 support equipment requiring temperature controlled storage, in order to maintain the servers, which receive and transmit all emergency communications. On several occasions, climate control has been compromised, which has prompted several forms of improvising, which compromises the integrity and safety of the 911 center. All of the developmental issues are due to a combination of aging infrastructure and utilizing a building that wasn't built to accommodate current industry standards of emergency operations. In general, the physical security of the 911 center is an extreme vulnerability to the safety and security of our community. From a wellness standpoint, 911 communications is a 24/7 operation, where shifts commonly range from 12-16 hours, with limited relief. For these reasons, best practices and industry standards require adequate amounts of daylight (windows) and accommodations for missed meal protocols (such as a break room where a meal can be prepared and consumed) while remaining in close proximity to their 911 workstation. SHERIFF'S DISPATCH CENTER - Grand Jury Response | 3

The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Dispatch Center is recruiting and hiring relief dispatchers and trainees. However, the dispatch center continues to be understaffed. Response: Agree At the time the Grand Jury was conducting their investigation, 911 dispatch staffing was at approximately 5 of the 12 allocated positions. These critical staffing levels resulted in continual mandated shifts, extended shifts, and burn-out. Undoubtedly the staffing levels were a direct result of low compensation, fatigue factor and a lack of retention. Critical staffing levels of the 911 center undoubtedly puts the community at risk. The Sheriff worked collaboratively with the County Administrator and the Board of Supervisors to take swift action to provide the necessary tools, to the Sheriff, to enhance recruitment efforts. These tools have been effective as the vacancy factor is now below 15%.