I would have never thought that the CHP would have enough "incident" to constitute a command vehicle. Most of their "incidents", i would think, end in a city that has its own command vehicle, at least where i live.
...then again, with such a nice vehicle to command with, i would think they would have at least gotten a UNIVERSAL remote, instead of 4...
...oh well-my tax dollars..
...just my 2 cents.
The types of major incidents the CHP work are numerous. They frequently work large traffic accidents involving dozens of vehicles. In Mono County where I live we have had some major commercial vehicle accidents with multiple fatalities. The CHP has a special traffic accident investigation unit called "M.A.I.T." or the Major Accident Investigation Team. These investigations can be extremely complex, especially when a portion or all of a highway has to be closed for a long period.
In rural areas the resources of the CHP are often used because the counties don't have enough resources to handle the incidents that occur. The CHP may deploy many officers to assist the county during large special events, New Year's Eve, and search and rescues. CHP helicopters and fixed wing aircraft are used for SAR's and suspect searches as most rural counties don't have aviation resources.
In snow country there can be total closures of major highways that can last for hours or days. Here in the eastern Sierra I observed the closure of 395 dozens of times, for up to a few hours or more than a day. This requires close coordination between county/municipal law enforcement and public works agencies, as well as Caltrans.
I've been on a few large wildland fires that involve multiple state highways, both major and minor. Some years ago I was on a fire north of Valencia area that required the closure of I-5 between Valencia and Gorman. That involved a large contingent from the CHP who were part of the incident command organization managing the fire. These incidents involve disparate radio systems.
I've run the initial attack of some fires from the cab of my pickup. I did my best to equip it for this. It is real tough to use maps, radios, cell phones, scanners, many pieces of paper, and dry erase boards with a steering wheel in the way. The CHP command post vehicles are similar to the vehicles of most large fire department battalion chiefs, but contains a significantly larger amount of comm gear. I've ridden in the batt chief vehicles the L.A. County Fire Department uses. They have MDT's, mobile fax machines, computers, a large slide out worktable, multiple radio control heads and computers accessible from the tailgate area, as well as large slide out drawers with maps, records, and common office tools.
The intended usage of the CHP command posts is for far larger and complex incidents. They are intended to be highly mobile with quicker response times than the huge motor homes and 5th wheel trailer type command posts that a large number of local agencies have.
If you haven't worked a major incident it is difficult to imagine the incident command post equipment needs that are presented. Not having the right tool ready when it is needed adds more confusion in a situation where the overwhelming challenge is making order out of chaos. After working a fair number of incidents you see how a small detail can have a major affect on an incident. This is difficult to explain and you really need to be there to appreciate it. Think about the battle of Midway during WWII, a decisive battle that turned the tables of the war in the Pacific. A radio dial in one Japanese reconnaissance aircraft did not work, which ended up crippling the efforts of the superior Japanese naval force. This turned out to be the only reconnaissance aircraft to detect the American naval force at a key time. The radio dial prevented the crew of this aircraft from reporting the U.S. presence and strength near Midway. One radio dial contributed to a major shift in a major war. The rest is, as is often said, history.
When a government agency does not equip or prepare itself for the tasks it faces it is criticized for not having its act together. When it does equip and prepare itself for these tasks it is criticized for being extravagant and obtaining resources it really doesn't need. Damned if you don't and damned if you do, the story of a public service career.