PCSO reduces call for service response times

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office has reduced emergency response times by over two minutes and 30 seconds during the past two years. This has been accomplished through a reorganization of the Patrol Division, the method in which dispatchers take and enter 9-1-1 calls for service and improved equipment for our first responders.

Sheriff Babeu stated, “Seconds matter when you’re talking about an emergency response.  When a citizen picks up the phone and dials 9-1-1, they expect help to get there as quickly as possible. The reduction in response times is not because we are driving faster but is largely due to utilizing available resources more efficiently.”

Patrol Reorganization: Patrol reorganization was completed July 1, 2009, and consisted of breaking the county into three regions as well as assigning individual beats. The beats were determined geographically utilizing historical data that identified the amount of calls for service. Deputies have been assigned to specific beats so they can learn and become familiar with the neighborhoods, businesses, schools and repeat criminal offenders. Pinal County is now divided into 22 separate beats.

Dispatch: The Communications Division has gone through a workload and workflow evaluation which has led to the expansion of services, 9-1-1 and non-emergency call ring-time reduction and customer service enhancements. Included in the expansion was the ability for the Communications Division to go from one full-time radio frequency to five: one primary channel, an inquiry channel and three emergency frequency channels for deputies to use when responding to the highest levels of emergencies. 

In August 2009, the PCSO Communications Division began measuring ring-times, the number of seconds a 9-1-1- call rings before being answered. While the call volume has increased by an average of 1,200 phone calls per month, the ring time percentage has decreased by an average of 5.82 percent over the past year.

Equipment:  Eighteen months ago there were only 29 MDC’s installed in the PCSO patrol fleet. Through grant funding, Mobile Data Computers (MDC’s) have been purchased and installed in all patrol vehicles for each deputy to use. 

The MDC’s allow dispatchers to send call information directly to the deputy in the field.  The MDC’s also allow deputies to view maps that can help them navigate and arrive to calls in a quicker and safer manner. The MDC’s also permit deputies to complete written reports in the field, so they can be more responsive to calls for service.

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