According to Chief Kovacs of Copperopolis Fire Protection District all 911 calls made in Copperopolis are routed through the Stockton CHP dispatch center. From there the calls are routed to the Calaveras County Sheriff Dept PSAP (public safety answering point). From there the calls are dispatched to proper emergency channels. Fire calls dispatch to CalFire ECC (emergency command center) and ambulance calls are dispatched through the PSAP.
Kovacs stated that depending on the call volume the incoming 911 call may be received and heard at the same time by both PSAP and CalFire ECC increasing the speed with which emergency response crews are toned out.
According to Capt Macedo from Calaveras County Sheriff, "Only a small amount are routed through Stockton CHP." This statement is due to the fact that slowly Calaveras County is picking up cell towers and calls are being routed to PSAP.
While that statement is true, in part due to call volume, the reality is that there is still a large percent of the county that when a call is made to 911 on a cell phone it will be routed through Stockton. "Compounding the issue are those that have micro-cell sites in their homes." Said Lt Whiting. According to Whiting, Calaveras County currently routes 911 calls to their PSAP from 7 AT&T towers, 1 Sprint tower and 5 T-Mobile towers with an emphasis on Hwy 49.
The issue has not fallen on deaf ears as the county plans on "picking up what we have the capabilities of handling" with the current manpower constraints. The county is currently assessing the call volume and where it is increased stating that it "is a gradual process" as more towers equals more call volume which in turn equals more employees.
When asked about the time frame with which a call routed through Stockton actually reaches a local emergency service agency it was stated, "Historically there is a delay from Stockton."
There is no estimated time frame of when the county will have 100% coverage of cell towers.
Update: 12-14-12 9:11 am.
According to CalTel all LAN/Calaveras Telephone lines are routed to San Andreas.
By,
Charity Maness
