Communications Division

The Communications Division of the Salem Police Department is comprised of the Willamette Valley Communications Center (WVCC); Police Records; and Radio Communications.

WVCC is a regional 9-1-1 emergency dispatch center serving Salem and most of the citizens in Marion and Polk Counties. WVCC provides dispatch services for 18 police, fire and emergency medical agencies. Key goals of WVCC that are specific to the current fiscal year are to 1) Continue to expand wireless capabilities using mobile data to enhance service for first responders and thereby reducing overall emergency response times; 2) Improve security, which will include increased building security and electronic data security; 3) Continue to strengthen recruitment and training practices to attract and retain a highly skilled and diverse workforce; and 4) Continue to support Community Policing efforts through public education programs, neighborhood association meetings, and community resource materials to aid citizens when calling 9-1-1.

The Records Section functions include the entry and retrieval of data in the local, regional, and national law enforcement data systems. The Records Section is operational 24 hours a day and is responsible for the Police Department’ ’s front counter reception. The Records Section will 1) Continue working on improvements to the Police Records Information and Offense Reporting System (PRIORS); 2) Research technological advances and other innovations to enhance the ability to meet the growing needs of the City agency and partner agencies using PRIORS; 3) Continue development of wireless solutions for field reporting to assist the officers report writing and effective and efficient access to police records; 4) Maintain the data entry for all police incidents, citations, warrants and the processing of release of towed vehicles; 5) Continue to responding to citizen inquiries for copies of incident reports and other public information requests; 6) Continue expanding use of a regional police information, research, and detection system called CopLink; and 7) Continue to strengthen our recruitment and training practices to attract and retain a highly skilled and diverse workforce.

The Radio System Section provides an effective and reliable radio communication system that meets the daily needs of all City departments and provide sufficient back up capabilities for emergency situations. They are working towards interoperability with surrounding jurisdictions following the guidelines outlined by the State Interoperability Executive Council (SIEC). The Radio System Section will 1) Maintain the Police Department’’ s 450 MHz UHF radio system; 2) Upgrade the City's 800 MHz System to currently supported hardware and software levels; 3) Ensure that all required preventive maintenance and inventory lists are completed within the fiscal year; 4) Work with Nextel to implement FCC mandated rebanding of frequencies in 800Mhz band; and 5) Replace tower at Downs Hill.

The Communications Division has 85 FTE: One Communications Director, one Operations Manager, one Support Services Manager, one Administrative Analyst II, six Communications Shift Supervisors, six Communications Specialists III, thirty two Communications Specialists II, one Information Systems Specialist III, five Communications Specialists I, four 9-1-1 Call Takers, one Office Assistant II, one Records Supervisor, three Records Shift Supervisors, one Records Specialist, eighteen Records Technicians, one Communications Analyst, one Communications Technician II, and one Communications Technician I.