2000 Annual Report Page 20

In September 1998 the County signed a contract with Motorola to install Public Safety's new 800MHz Public Safety Radio System. Cost for the system will be 11 million dollars, and will include a 4 site, 21 channel simulcast system, with 2,750 radio's. Users of the system will include the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Department, St. Lucie County Fire District, Port Saint Lucie Police Department, Fort Pierce Police Department, St. Lucie County School Board, St. Lucie County Animal Control, Ft. Pierce City Government, Port Saint Lucie City Government and St. Lucie County Government. Installation is scheduled for completion by March 2001. Fire District dispatch was moved to the Emergency Operation Center on June 1, 2000.

The Public Safety Department has five (5) divisions listed below:

E-911 Central Communication:

St. Lucie County E-911 is a central dispatch system, handling all incoming calls for the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Department, Ft. Pierce Police Department, Port Saint. Lucie Police Department and St. Lucie County Fire District. We have a up and running computer aided dispatch system where all information is collected at one location . The information is then processed and handled by 911 personnel located inside the St. Lucie County Emergency Operation Center on Rock Road. Calls are dispatched by 911 personnel to all Law Enforcement agencies within the county and fire-rescue calls are sent to the Fire District via our computer aided dispatch system. For the year of 2000 the 911 Center handled 560,272 calls into the 911 center with 280,596 of those calls being E-911 calls. Total calls dispatched were 341,774. The 911 Center operates with a total of 15 dispatch and complaint positions. Total full time positions are 44 with 22 part time positions. The phones have 60 lines with 14 lines being dedicated to only 911 calls, 16 hot lines are to other emergency agencies, 3 off premise lines to the Sheriff's Office, 3 off premise lines to the Ft. Pierce Police Department, 1 off premise line to Pt. St. Lucie Police

Jack Southard
Public Safety Director

Department, 3 to the Fire District and 2 to I.R.C.C. We have 6 administrative lines for out going calls and incoming calls to receive emergency calls for alarm companies and other outside agencies. The 911 center runs six 15 channel consoles for dispatch purposes.

St. Lucie County Animal Control:

Animal control officers are responsible for enforcing the state statutes and local ordinances regarding animals. The personnel staff consists of one (1) coordinator, two (2) full-time and two (2) part-time employees. The calls for service are mainly in the unincorporated sections of St. Lucie County. We also assist the cities of Ft. Pierce, Port St. Lucie and the Town of St. Lucie Village. Animal control officers are dispatched through 9-1-1 Communications Center. Numerous presentations have been made to neighborhood associations and schools. For the year 2000 Animal Control received 7,504 complaints, handled 106 bite cases and 3 rabid animal cases. Animal Control investigated 183 cruelty cases. The total number of animals transported to the Humane Society by Animal Control was 1,925.

Emergency Management:

Is supervised by the Public Safety Director and operated with an Emergency Management Coordinator, and one clerical staff. Emergency management coordinates all major emergencies within incorporated and unincorporated jurisdictions, working with local, state and federal agencies. Works closely with all emergency response as well as human service and non profit agencies in preparation for disasters. Held emergency preparedness meetings throughout the year with local government