NMSP to shut down local district dispatch offices

[SCPD]

NMSP is in the works to plan and remove numerous dispatch district local offices and moving the volume of state end calls/dispatch to Santa Fe Control. The time table is not set yet but unfortunately this will bring layoffs and or re assignment to many dispatchers for NMSP. The local districts 911 for state police that are decided to be shut down will be switched to Santa Fe Control and then the digital microwaves will be used to relay and dispatch to in field units in local districts information as well as the in car mdt cad system being used more for call logs and dispatching. This will reduce fund requirements and spending costs since Santa Fe Control is manned 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Since the digital microwave linking has completed and other upgrades are in the works or completed it is a step toward reducing the costs of district local offices that are recieving less volume calls and studies have shown the new setup will work efficient with the backups in place. Local dispatch offices will still have the equipment and officers in them and could be used if need be or switched back to. Numerous backups were put in place in event needed as well as local agencies getting the 911 calls in those consolidated 911 centers. The last 3 or 4 in NM (local entities) were aware of these changes however have failed to consolidate dispatch such as county sheriff, ems, fire, local police and have missed out in hundreds of thousands of state grants or money programs some in millions they let go due to localized bickering between themselves. Most have gone to regional dispatch though those few chose to loose out on allot which said is about 3 to 4 counties who refused to consolidate to a localized regional dispatch center for locals.

I should add this is a common thing occuring across many states currently as technology progresses and upgrades are completed or done. Texas is one example of using regional dispatch for a entire region for TDPS. Since NM is smaller and has the capabilities Santa Fe Control would be able to handle the majority of the state.

 

[ShyFlyer]

The last 3 or 4 in NM (local entities) were aware of these changes however have failed to consolidate dispatch such as county sheriff, ems, fire, local police and have missed out in hundreds of thousands of state grants or money programs some in millions they let go due to localized bickering between themselves

Gotta love small town politics.

I remember back a few years ago when Cibola County wanted to combine dispatch operations. The plan was, if I recall correctly, to combine dispatching for all the LEO, Fire, and EMS in the county to include NMSP D6 and the Tribal Agencies. NMSP kindly said thanks, but no thanks. The Tribal Agencies declined as well (can't remember the reason). The Village of Milan declined as well, but not so kindly. Village of Milan and City of Grants officials don't get along very well, mostly with the Milan officials being paranoid that Grants is taking over "everything."

So now, "Regional" as it's called, handles only Grants PD & Fire/Rescue, the various Volunteer FDs around the county (Grants Fire & Rescue is the defacto County FD), and Sheriff.

 

[W8RMH]

Ohio State Patrol is in the same process. Used to be 1 dispatcher per post, 88 posts. Then went to 3 or 4 posts dispatched from one post. Their goal is one central dispatch point in the state capital. Dispatchers will be relocated to Columbus or not replaced when they retire. It makes sense from a logistical standpoint I guess.

 

[SCPD]

Same here in thw Twin Cities, all of the state patrol is dispatched from one location in Roseville which is a suburb of St. Paul. They eliminated the individual dispatch centers to same money. With the ARMER system available most of the state, they can dispatch on towers in a effective and the troopers are allowed to roam pretty much throughout the state. I would sure be much safer with localized PSAP's serving the various districts.

 

[INDY72]

And in TN.. THP, and TDOT have combined dispatch centers for the Highway Patrol and DOT HELP MAPs.... then went and consolidated every 2 districts into singles, and moved dispatch centers and now run 2 districts each. IN is working on an similar idea eventually.

 

[SCPD]

They knew (SP) that consolidation of the districts to Santa Fe Control would come and had been planned. So when a regional dispatch center was formed they passed on it. Hobbs offered also but they declined but did install a console for them to utilize of the need came to be to monitor the district local and district duplex traffic. So that did not cost them anything. SP also did same for the Mesilla Valley Authority giving them a console for the SP district local and district duplex to monitor or use if for whatever reason something happened which required the authority to use it or monitor. But as for state dispatchers it will all be out of Santa Fe Control. This includes NMDOITT, CYFD, HSD (yes some vehicles do have mobiles) NMDOT, Med control for the uhf med, Probation, and state prisons. Keep in mind all these entities use a duplex microwaved system same as SP thus why nkt many have found much to add in the DB. Same applies. Typically you'll hear one side but not other on the mobile unless you have a actual transciever or are in a good location to catch the traffic on a scanner with a decent antenna. Last I know CYFD and HSD had some in fleet but we're going toward cell use mostly. Probation does use a duplex and does have mobile extenders same as SP. Some carry and use some dont. There has been talks of moving the uhf med channels to the 700mhz in a conventional format though the uhf would be maintained anyway. The state will not drop it's licensing on what they have. They still have low band licenses though not much get used at all but could be if a few vehicles had a old low band thrown in that was lingering around but nobody uses it. With newer control heads and trunk deck options these days and tying into the mdt in vehicle it is easier to have numerous bands then it ever was plus with all band equipment these days. Currently the SP units have trunk mounted decks with the equipment and heads up front or if it can be tied into the mdt. Anything else if room exists is installed up front in console. Some may have noticed around Lea county the pacs still referred by many (vrs extenders) throwing digital out which is encrypted. This is the mobile monitoring the local scan traffic kicking back out to the extender portable. Since Lea is mostly secure in local LE SP upgraded them first with the p25 equipment some time back. Most SP now across the state have the uhf xts portables which are p25 capable, and the mobiles. If your curious to model it ranges anywhere from model 1s, to 1.5s, to 2 and model 3s. 2500s or 5000s they acquired long ago in cache which the cache current equipment was upgraded to apx series, 6, 7, 8000 models to 4000s etc along with other brands of equipment that are current used within the state. You will see some using the apx 4000s uhf for the extenders also now. Most locals who used the 2500 series xts 1500s who stuck to Motorola are going with the lower cost apx 4000 for LE and 6000xe's for the fire ends. Others chose kenwood or other types which are p25 compliant for that areas needs. But you will still see some use analog equipment if your area isn't digital or won't be anytime soon or at all.

 

[beerzkool]

The Española office is gone. Comm tower is the only thing left.

 

[kc5igh]

The Española office is gone. Comm tower is the only thing left.

That's because they're rebuilding the District 7 office.

Everyone's moved further up the hill to the National Guard Armory in the meantime.

-Johnnie

 

[beerzkool]

Do you know where the new building will be?

 

[kc5igh]

Do you know where the new building will be?

To the best of my knowledge, they're going to construct a new, larger building on the same spot where the old District 7 office was.

-Johnnie