Communications Chief (S6)

The Communications Officer facilitates and coordinates Sheriff's Auxiliary communications, including working to develop communications plans and protocols, recommend and standardize technology, and coordinate communications training. The Comms Officer also participates in community processes to foster interoperable communications between the Sheriff's Office and other organizations/agencies. The Auxiliary Communications section, under direction of the Communications Officer, provides field communications for the Sheriff's Auxiliary, field communications for the Sheriff's Office when required, and supports the overall Emergency Communications and Public Warning functions of the Sheriff's Office. Finally, the Communications Officer is expected to direct research and experimentation in new emergency communications technologies and techniques.
The Communications Officer is also responsible, directly, through designated subordinates, or through outside professionals, for the Auxiliary websites, email, and team management system.
The Communications Officer shall coordinate with the Intelligence/Security Chief to provide secure communications channels for sensitive or confidential communications and to control access to access-restricted Auxiliary communications systems.
 
Reporting Requirements:
The Communications Officer:

• Submits a quarterly report to command staff summarizing communications activity, levels of training, number of licensed radio operators, and progress toward training/licensing targets. The report is also required to include such information on available and deployed base stations, mobile radios, and handheld radios capable of using the Sheriff's Office assigned Public Service channels sufficient to meet the Sheriff's Office's FCC reporting requirements.
• Coordinates with the Quartermaster to ensure that communications equipment under control of the Communications Officer is inventoried for the quarterly reports and periodically tested.