Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTIVE
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTIVE 510.33
Page 1 of 3 510.33
RADIO CHANNEL CONFIGURATION
1-31-23
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Communications Directive is to establish procedures for the operation of the Sacramento
Police Department’s radio channel configuration by Communications Division personnel.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Communications Division to operate radio channels in collaboration with patrol
operational requirements.
PROCEDURE
A. OPERATIONAL AREAS
1. The City is divided into 6 geographic operational areas known as districts.
2. Each district is further divided into patrol beats.
B. COVERAGE GROUPS
1. There are six coverage groups that correspond to a respective district .:
2. The six districts operate on a pre -determined radio channel in one of the four areas as illustrated in
the table below:
Group District Area
P1
P2
P3
P4
P5
P6 District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6 North
North
Central
South
South
East
C. RADIO CHANNEL CONFIGURATION
1. For radio channel configuration, refer to General Order 510.01( Radio Communication) .
2. The following actions shall be taken by radio dispatch personnel when collapsing a 4-channel
operation to a 2-channel or 3-channel operation:
a. The channel 6 dispatcher shall:
(1) Make an all divisions broadcast and advise units:
(a) Which channel configuration (2 or 3 channel) will take place.
(b) To which channel each district is to change:
(i) District 6 to channel 3 (SP3) (for 3 channels)
(ii) District 6 to channel 4 (SP4) and district 3 to channel 1 (SP1) (for 2 channels)
(c) Advise units to identify themselves on their new channel.
EXAMPLE: “ATTENTION ALL DIVISIONS. SAC PD IS GOING TO A 2-CHANNEL
OPERATION. DISTRICT 6 TO CHANNEL 4 AND IDENTIFY, DISTRICT 3 TO
CHANNEL 1 AND IDENTIFY.”
(2) Send a point -to-point message to all m obile data computer users logged on (PMDT )
advising units of the channel configuration change: EXAMPLE: “TO PMDT, WE ARE NOW
A 2-CHANNEL OPERATION. DISTRICT 6 TO CHANNEL 4, DISTRICT 3 TO CHANNEL 1
AND IDENTIFY.”
b. For 2-Channel Configuration
(1) The channel 1 dispatcher shall:
(a) Assign and monitor coverage groups P1, P2, P3 and County ( CO).
(b) Control messages to the new radio terminal.
(c) Rebroadcast on SP3 for any remaining units to come to channel 1 and identify.
(2) The channel 4 dispatcher shall:
(a) Assign and monitor coverage groups P4, P5, P6 and CO.
(b) Control messages to the new radio terminal.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTIVE
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTIVE 510.33
Page 2 of 3 (c) Rebroadcast on channel 6 ( SP6) for any remaining units come to channel 4 and identify.
(3) The channel 6 and channel 3 dispatchers shall:
(a) Close all open computer programs on their terminals.
(b) Log off and exit applications on their terminals.
c. For 3-Channel Configuration
(1) The channel 1 dispatcher shall assign and monitor coverage groups P1, P2, and CO.
(2) The channel 3 dispatcher shall:
(a) Assign and monitor coverage groups P3, P6 and CO.
(b) Control messages to the new radio terminal.
(c) Rebroadcast on SP6 for any remaining units to switch to channel 3 and identify.
(3) The channel 4 dispatcher shall assign and monitor coverage groups P4, P5 and CO.
D. EXPANDING CHANNELS:
1. The following action shall be taken by radio dispatch personnel when expanding from a 2-channel
operation to a 3- channel operation.
a. The dispatcher responsible for district 6 at the time of the channel expansion shall:
(1) Make an All Division broadcast advising units:
(a) Of the expansion to a 3-channel operation and to which channel each district is to
switch .
(b) For districts 3 and 6, to switch to channel 3 (for 3 channels)
(c) To identify themselves when they have switched channels:
EXAMPLE: “ATTENTION ALL DIVISIONS. SAC PD IS GOING TO A 3 -CHANNEL
OPERATION. DISTRICTS 3 AND 6 TO CHANNEL 3 AND IDENTIFY”
(2) Send a PMDT message advising units of the channel configuration change:
EXAMPLE: “TO PMDT,