WATCH COMMANDER

THE WATCH COMMANDER’S OFFICE

is located in the Emergency Operations Center directly adjacent to the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center. Sheriff’s sergeants manage the office 24 hours a day. Sheriff’s commanders staff the office during the evening hours to increase the field supervision of patrol deputies. The Watch Commander’s Office has the principal responsibility of overseeing dispatch services and patrol operations on a daily basis. The office also serves as the point of contact for the entire county with the Federal National Warning System (NAWAS) and the California State Warning Center, which both provide communications to the county in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. The watch commander also handles all local notifications during critical incidents and natural disasters, including but not limited to the county’s Bomb Task Force, Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail, Search and Rescue, Dive Team, Aero Squadron, and the Sheriff’s Detective Division.

The Watch Commander’s Office is the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant’s primary law enforcement point of

THE WATCH COMMANDER’S OFFICE IS THE SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES AFTER BUSINESS HOURS, ON WEEKENDS AND ON HOLIDAYS.

contact during any unusual events or critical incidents occurring at the plant. During an emergency, the watch commander is authorized to activate the County Emergency Alert System (EAS) including Reverse 911, area sirens, and EAS messages on commercial radio and television.