Support Services Division

The Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center serves as the vital link between the public and the deputies who respond to the needs of the citizens. Nearly all cases handled by the Sheriff's Office originate in the Dispatch Center. The Center receives most incoming calls for service from a direct dial to the Center or a 9-1-1 transfer from Valley Emergency Communications Center.

Dispatchers receive extensive training and are certified in the following areas: Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Police Office Standards and Training (POST), and Bureau of Criminal Information (BCI). With this training, they are able to handle all types of calls, from minor problems to emergencies. They must be able to remain calm in very stressful situations and they know how to calm callers in order to obtain necessary information.

Dispatchers must stay aware of what is taking place on the radio at all times. They provide responding deputies with information critical to officer safety as well as information that may aid in the quick apprehension of suspects. They provide callers with important information to increase their safety until deputies arrive. They obtain information to determine the need for medical assistance. They ofter provide callers with life saving emergency first aid information until the arrival of medical personnel. They play a critical role in the management of major incidents.

In the year 2002, the Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center received and dispatched 156,792 calls for service and 22,314 animal control calls.

Enforcement Services manages alarm ordinance compliance, archiving of Sheriff's Office records, Government Records Access Management Act (GRAMA) compliance, Mobile Report Entry (MRE), and Record Management System (RMS) support. Also, a comprehensive training and troubleshooting team closely analyzes training needs of field personnel, builds training modules, and conducts training.

These professionals issue business and residential alarm system user permits in unincorporated Salt Lake County as required by Salt Lake County Ordinance and to incorporated cities that contract with the Sheriff's Office as required by city ordinance. They regularly send letters to permit holders who are experiencing false alarm problems to encourage them to seek an effective resolution before penalties are invoked. Staff members regularly update information in the alarm database on the 20,000 plus alarm sites that are registered with the Sheriff's Office. With this information, we provide monthly reports to contract cities to aid them in the accurate billing of false alarm fees as per their local ordinances. This unit also maintains a positive working relationship with the alarm industry and continually encourages efforts in false alarm reduction.

The Government Records Access Management Act (GRAMA) gives citizens the right to access many government records. However, law enforcement records often contain certain sensitive information vital to on-going criminal investigations, as well as information classified as "private" to complainants, victims, witnesses and others. Our professional editors retract sensitive and private information from each record prior to release to the public in order to comply with Utah law. The statute allows the Sheriff's Office up to ten working days to respond to each request for records. However, we work hard to process records as quickly as possible, usually filling requests within a few days. Records may be requested in person at the Support Services counter at the Sheriff's Office Administration Building located at 3365 South 900 West.

Unit staff members also manage the Sheriff's Office archives in accordance with state law. This requires that we maintain the records in a secure environment and restrict access to them. Depending on the nature and sensitivity of a document, we retain government records for specified periods of time before they can be destroyed. Some records are stored for short periods while others are kept indefinitely. Having access to the majority of Sheriff's Office records, this Unit also processes all subpoenas and court orders for these records.

In addition, this Unit provides 24 hours per day, 7 days per week support for Sheriff's Office users of Mobile Report Entry (MRE) and the Records Management System (RMS). Unit staff members provide training classes, manuals, and person-to-person assistance on MRE, RMS, General Office entry procedures, Search engines and the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

The towing rotation was established to assist deputies in requesting towing services on behalf of citizens who need the services and either do not know or have no preference as to a towing company. A rotation agreement was established by the Sheriff's Office to avoid any misunderstanding as to the expectations of the level of service provided by the towing companies who participate. The Tow Truck Rotation Coordinator provides an important service to the public by closely monitoring the compliance with state law and the rotation agreement of the towing companies that are approved for the Sheriff's Office Towing Rotation. This includes the charging of lawful rates for service, safe-towing practices, proper care of the towed vehicle, and appropriate conduct with the vehicle owners. Unit staff also process the annual application for towing rotation submitted by towing companies in Salt Lake County who desire to participate and demonstrate willingness to comply with established requirements. Complaints related to Sheriff's Office Rotation calls are directed to the coordinator and, whenever possible, an effective resolution to each complaint is found.

Many private property owners contract with towing companies to patrol their properties and tow vehicles that are parked in violation of established rules. These private property owners include owners of apartment and condominium complexes, planned communities, business parking lots, etc.. The public should be aware of the following information:

A non-law enforcement private property tow is unlawful unless the tow company has a current contract with the private property owner.
A non-law enforcement tow is not lawfully completed until the vehicle is removed from the private property upon which it was parked.

Here's what you can and should do if you vehicle is towed from private property:

If your vehicle is on hook but still on the private property where it was parked and you are told that the vehicle will not be released until a certain fee is paid, call the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction to respond to the scene.
Ask the tow truck operator to show you a copy of the contract with the private property owner.

Please honor all parking restrictions on public or private property to minimize the risk of having your vehicle towed.

Information Services disseminates Sheriff's Office records and processes all reports, citations and other work products of the Sheriff's Office in accordance with federal, state and local requirements. Unit staff members receive requests for traffic accident reports, arrest information and other records and information from citizens, attorneys, insurance companies, etc..

This unit also receives and processes all expungement orders received by the Sheriff's Office from the courts and the Utah State Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI). Each order is thoroughly researched to assure that all existing records are identified and sealed within 14 days as required by law.

Jail Documentation manages the records created on all arrests and prisoner bookings. Unit staff members process these records through a series of integrity checks for accuracy and duplication. They also make corrections to booking records where prisoners have used assumed names and other false identifying information. The records are then electronically scanned and stored as digital images.

Together, these two units process all records created by the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. To help with this monumental task, we implemented a new electronic Records Management System (RMS) in the year 2000. This state-of-the-art system was the culmination of several years of planning and development accomplished through the cooperative effort of computer experts, record managers and law enforcement personnel. With the RMS system in place, deputies in the field can now enter their reports directly into Mobile Data Computers (laptops) in their vehicles, or into a desktop computer at any Sheriff's Office location.

Report information is received electronically by Information Services by means of a transcription queue that is managed by highly trained specialists and the information is then merged with existing databases. The reports are routed directly to the supervisor of the responsible investigative unit such as Metro Gangs, Sex Crimes, Family Crimes, Homicide/Robbery, etc., who, in turn, routes the report to the desk of the assigned investigator. This intricate case management process reduces the amount of paper normally required in records management but allows for a printed document, if needed.

The primary advantage of the RMS is the cross-linked databases which provide investigators and patrol deputies the enhanced ability to perform detailed searches of the system for information relating to current investigations, past criminal activity and offenders. The RMS also provides deputies and investigators with access to digitized booking photos of known offenders which can be viewed on mobile data computers in police vehicles or on desktop computers of deputies and investigators.

The benefits of the RMS to the public include: on-scene confirmation of suspect identification, timely availability of investigative reports, greater number of successful investigations and prosecutions, greater opportunity of having stolen property recovered and returned, easily located reports and information, etc..

Communications technicians closely monitor and maintain the major components fo the radio, paging, and mobile computer systems to include 15 remote transmitter sites (many on mountain tops) for continuous operation. Unit staff members also purchase, program, issue and maintain all mobile and portable radios, pagers, cell phones, and mobile data computers for the Sheriff's Office. They provide 24/7 support for communications emergencies.

They provide training classes on the proper use of the mobile data computers (laptops). They coordinate all major changes in frequency licensing for Salt Lake County. They supervise all communications contractors that perform work on Sheriff's Office communications equipment. They maintain the radio system for the Salt Lake City Police and Fire Department. They also upgrade all mobile data computers to new software versions as they are published. The professional quality work performed by these highly intelligent and fully trained technicians is critical to the timely and efficient delivery of service to the public by Sheriff's Office personnel.

This unit coordinates the purchases, assignment, maintenance and repair of Sheriff's Office vehicles, the design and installation of specialized equipment for the vehicles, the removal of Sheriff's Office equipment when the vehicle is replaced and the surplus of replaced vehicles and equipment. Salt Lake County replaces Sheriff's Office vehicles annually and bi-annualy for cost effectiveness and to provide the lates and most efficient technology and equipment. Vehicles that are kept in optimum condition help to provide assureance that the concerned citizen will receive the help they need.

Many patrol vehicles are now equipped with mobile data computers (MDC) and in-car video equipment. These computers allow deputies to access information on warrant, driver's licenses, motor vehicles, and jail booking photos. Deputies now complete all reports via computer. All advances in technology and equipment add to the efficiency of the deputy in providing quality police service to the community.

This unit provides for the systematic and secure transportation, handling and storage of items of evidence to include stolen and recovered property and found property in accordance with Utah State Law and Sheriff's Office Policy. This is accomplished through the efforts of well-trained personnel, efficient space management and locating systems, and the use of high-tech computer programs and barcode technology. This unit has received national recognition for its professional process of handling and storing evidence and maintaining maticulous property accountability.

During the year 2002, this unit processed5,085 evidence reports documenting the booking of an estimated 20,000 items into evidence. Effective management provides for more efficient locating and retrieving of evidence and property and safer storage of drugs, guns, and biohazard samples. Unit staff members also provide for the secure transportation of evidence to and from the State Crime Lab for processing and analysis.

Staff members developed and manage the process for determining when criminal court action has been completed and obtaining written authorization from prosecuting attorneys for the proper disposal of the evidence. This includes determining which items of evidence can be returned to the owner and which items can be disposed of in accordance with legal requirements. Over 8,000 items of evidence were disposed of through this process during 2002. Without this well managed program of evidence disposal, the current facility would soon rum out of space and the efficiency of the evidence program would be significantly impaired.

Training in the proper packaging and handling of evidence and evidence integrity is provided to all new hires and is also part of the annual training provided to all sworn officers. This training includes exceptional visual aids that eliminate any misunderstanding that may exist regarding what is required.

This unit also receives, stores, issues and tracks equipment and supplies for all Patrol and Investigative Divisions of the Sheriff's Office.

This unit is the only Salt Lake County entity that licenses bicycles for the public and maintains the database of registration information. In 2002, 282 found bicycles were received by unit staff of which 36 were identified and returned to the registered owner. Of the remaining bikes, 111 went to public auction, 16 were donated to Sub-for-Santa programs and 35 were returned to the finder.

The Printing Services section of the Property Unit produces 90 percent of all printed materila used by the Sheriff's Office which equates to a substantial saving in printing costs. The printer produces approximately 6,000,000 copies per year for the the Sheriff's Office which does not include the set-up time, cutting, padding, collating and drilling that is necessary to produce finished products.

This unit is responsible for coordinating all of the mainenance and repair of the Sheriff's Office Administration Building. This includes heating, air conditioning, plumbing, cleaning, electrical, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), Dispatch electronic equipment, telephone systems, computer system connections, video systems, etc.. Staff members also track all radio frequency licenses and service contracts.

This unit also coordinates all remodeling and new equipment installation at the Sheriff's Office Administration Building.