Hey guys,
I've seen the SD Sheriff unit ID list on scandiego (as well as the one in the scannerstuff Southern California Frequency Directory, which is about the same) available here:
SCANDIEGO.COM SDSO UNITS
However it doesn't quite match what I'm hearing in real life. According to that list the first two digits are the Service Area, followed by a letter denoting the type of unit, another letter denoting a higher rank (if applicable) and a number between 1 and 3 for the shift. A couple problems:
1.) Not all patrol units use the "Paul" unit type. Some use it and some drop it. For example "31 Paul 11" vs. "32 - 5" or "32 - 3." (The latter being pronounced "Thirty two three," much like a CHP unit ID which has no intermediate letter.) It seems like this could either be really poor radio discipline, with both patrol deputies and dispatchers using or dropping the "Paul" in the unit ID interchangeably... or there is a difference between regular units with no letter and the units with a "Paul" in the unit ID. Anyone know the difference?
2.) The last "shift" number is often greater than 3 (ex. 31P11, 32-5, 32-7, etc.) which makes me think it's not a "shift" at all, but rather a beat number within that service area prefix. Considering cities like Vista (31), San Marcos (91), Lemon Grove (61) etc, they are far too large to only have one deputy on duty per shift, and they are far too large to give that deputy free reign through the entire service area. So the logical conclusion would be to have multiple deputies on duty in those areas each shift, and break those large service areas into smaller beats. I am guessing that beat number is the last digit of the unit ID, and not the shift.
It's clear that the scandiego SDSD unit breakdown is not entirely accurate. Can anyone familiar with the department help me fill in the blanks?
I've seen the SD Sheriff unit ID list on scandiego (as well as the one in the scannerstuff Southern California Frequency Directory, which is about the same) available here:
SCANDIEGO.COM SDSO UNITS
However it doesn't quite match what I'm hearing in real life. According to that list the first two digits are the Service Area, followed by a letter denoting the type of unit, another letter denoting a higher rank (if applicable) and a number between 1 and 3 for the shift. A couple problems:
1.) Not all patrol units use the "Paul" unit type. Some use it and some drop it. For example "31 Paul 11" vs. "32 - 5" or "32 - 3." (The latter being pronounced "Thirty two three," much like a CHP unit ID which has no intermediate letter.) It seems like this could either be really poor radio discipline, with both patrol deputies and dispatchers using or dropping the "Paul" in the unit ID interchangeably... or there is a difference between regular units with no letter and the units with a "Paul" in the unit ID. Anyone know the difference?
2.) The last "shift" number is often greater than 3 (ex. 31P11, 32-5, 32-7, etc.) which makes me think it's not a "shift" at all, but rather a beat number within that service area prefix. Considering cities like Vista (31), San Marcos (91), Lemon Grove (61) etc, they are far too large to only have one deputy on duty per shift, and they are far too large to give that deputy free reign through the entire service area. So the logical conclusion would be to have multiple deputies on duty in those areas each shift, and break those large service areas into smaller beats. I am guessing that beat number is the last digit of the unit ID, and not the shift.
It's clear that the scandiego SDSD unit breakdown is not entirely accurate. Can anyone familiar with the department help me fill in the blanks?