SO Substation

I went to the SO Sub on Friday afternoon around 2:30. I too picked up the phone and after 13 rings was told that the dispatch had been moved "up north". I was asked what I needed and when I stated my bizness, I asked if there was no one in the building and she told me no. I was told to wait there and she would send a deputy. He drove up a mintue later.

I didn't think it WAS staffed outside of business hours.
I know the deputies are working at all hours, but figured there wasn't office personnel there outside the average work day.

I didn't think it WAS staffed outside of business hours.
I know the deputies are working at all hours, but figured there wasn't office personnel there outside the average work day.

I thought when RJ was in office and did not get his requested budget increase, he laid off a bunch of the office workers in order to keep more sworn deputies on the street.

Yes but the dispatchers staffed the station 24/7 and the public was able to come in for help and dispatch would help them. When Mike took over he demoted Lt. Mitchem and placed him at the desk to assist the public. So now they haft to send a deputy over to the station everytime someone needs something?? When having a it open all the time was like having our own police station in SOWAL. Now all of the SO dispatchers are in one place what if something happens to the dispatch center in DFS when they were in the south end they could answer the northends calls and the smae the other way. now they are all in one place.

Yes but the dispatchers staffed the station 24/7 and the public was able to come in for help and dispatch would help them. When Mike took over he demoted Lt. Mitchem and placed him at the desk to assist the public. So now they haft to send a deputy over to the station everytime someone needs something?? When having a it open all the time was like having our own police station in SOWAL. Now all of the SO dispatchers are in one place what if something happens to the dispatch center in DFS when they were in the south end they could answer the northends calls and the smae the other way. now they are all in one place.

Are all the sowal fire dispatchers in one place?

It's not about local politics

I don't care if it was a RJ policy or is a Mike A policy. This is the point, it's spring Break, this end of the county is the Beach at spring break, the most accidents and most calls will be generated from South Walton this time of year. The permanent residents need a sheriff's station open closer than DefuniaK 24/7 this time of year and probably all year long. According to Patrick Pilcher at the recent Tax payers association 89.1 % of the county tax revenue is generated south of 331 bridge. If we want South Walton to be different from Destin and Panama City at Spring Break we must maintain a strong law enforcement presence and strong emergency personnel presence. Who decided, or who got demoted isn't the issue, it's public safety and preservation of our economic and property/ way of life base or we'll have no schools, parks and community services. It's a fragile line we walk between needs and wants of a community versus the politics of it all.

" This view from the cheap seats is pretty dang clear"
Alan

Are all the sowal fire dispatchers in one place?

Yes, yes they are as to SoWal Fire communication personnel.

I don't know, is it efficient use of the funds to place a live contact person at a window in the SoWal substatation, I will say that it seems unreasonable to to have the phone ring 12 or 13 times before someone answers it.

Also, is SO not using the South end facility for holding arrestees??? before they send them North, and if they are is there a jailer there that could be answering questions or manning the phones? If they are sending the arrestee??? North what if they have more than one throughout the same time frame, does that mean there are a reduced number of Deputies as they take arrestee's??? North?

Yes, yes they are as to SoWal Fire communication personnel.

I don't know, is it efficient use of the funds to place a live contact person at a window in the SoWal substatation, I will say that it seems unreasonable to to have the phone ring 12 or 13 times before someone answers it.

Also, is SO not using the South end facility for holding arrestees??? before they send them North, and if they are is there a jailer there that could be answering questions or manning the phones? If they are sending the arrestee??? North what if they have more than one throughout the same time frame, does that mean there are a reduced number of Deputies as they take arrestee's??? North?

The south end substation has not been used to hold Arrestees since RJ gave the CJ back to the county. The deputies from the was i understand it is they go north to the CJ when they arrest someone.


All of SWFD dispatchers are in one place but North Walton can dispatch all SWFD units if needed and SWFD can dispatch north units if needed.

I do not know if the county dispatch center can dispatch SO units or not. Maybe DFSPD can dispatch if needed..

Boy, that sounds like a lot of travel and then I'll bet the check in time is long.

Before reading this post, I had no idea that any individual needing the Sheriff's Dept would actually drive to the Sheriff's Office. I've always been taught to call 9-1-1.

The only reason I would GO to the Sheriff's substation is if I was in its immediate area and someone creepy was following me.

Otherwise it's 911 or the non-emergency number (where they are very nice about telling me who I should be calling for my current issue - found dog, SUV taking out stop signs etc.)

I don't care if it was a RJ policy or is a Mike A policy. This is the point, it's spring Break, this end of the county is the Beach at spring break, the most accidents and most calls will be generated from South Walton this time of year. The permanent residents need a sheriff's station open closer than Defuniac 24/7 this time of year and probably all year long. According to Patrick Pilcher at the recent Tax payers association 89.1 % of the county tax revenue is generated south of 331 bridge. If we want South Walton to be different from Destin and Panama City at Spring Break we must maintain a strong law enforcement presence and strong emergency personnel presence. Who decided, or who got demoted isn't the issue, it's public safety and preservation of our economic and property/ way of life base or we'll have no schools, parks and community services. It's a fragile line we walk between needs and wants of a community versus the politics of it all.

" This view from the cheap seats is pretty dang clear"
Alan

Actually the office is about six miles north of DeFuniak Springs. And we deserve at least the respect of spelling the name of our city correctly.

Could I see a show of hands of everyone who has contacted the Sheriff about this matter? He is a pretty easy guy to talk with when not chasing murderers and other law breakers.

For the record. I opted to visit the sheriff's dept. after speaking with code enforcement by phone. I was told that my situation is handled by the SO. Instead of calling 911 or the 267
number I went in person to perhaps get some advice on how to address this particular problem. Let me also clarify....I love our live music here. That was not the issue.

I don't care if it was a RJ policy or is a Mike A policy. This is the point, it's spring Break, this end of the county is the Beach at spring break, the most accidents and most calls will be generated from South Walton this time of year. The permanent residents need a sheriff's station open closer than Defuniac 24/7 this time of year and probably all year long. According to Patrick Pilcher at the recent Tax payers association 89.1 % of the county tax revenue is generated south of 331 bridge. If we want South Walton to be different from Destin and Panama City at Spring Break we must maintain a strong law enforcement presence and strong emergency personnel presence. Who decided, or who got demoted isn't the issue, it's public safety and preservation of our economic and property/ way of life base or we'll have no schools, parks and community services. It's a fragile line we walk between needs and wants of a community versus the politics of it all.

" This view from the cheap seats is pretty dang clear"
Alan

wow. i'm surprised to hear that doesn't exist!

Sorry Robert

Actually the office is about six miles north of DeFuniak Springs. And we deserve at least the respect of spelling the name of our city correctly.

Could I see a show of hands of everyone who has contacted the Sheriff about this matter? He is a pretty easy guy to talk with when not chasing murderers and other law breakers.

Sorry Robert, it was late when I posted. I'll do better.

Sorry Robert, it was late when I posted. I'll do better.

No problem. From what I am reading you had your hands full today.

I needed to go there today for a finger print card and when i went about 9:00am i found the office closed and i used their phone on the outside wall and was told that the substation had been closed to the public for good. I was also told if i needed finger prints that i would haft to go to the North SO office 31 miles away by google and a 45 min. drive. I ask if a deputy could do it and was advised that a person who was certified in fingerprinting was required. I ask about the deputy who sit at the desk in the office and was advised he was moved to Paxton School.

Why couldn't you go to someone in the Annex for that?
I just don't understand why with a Clerk of Court, Tax Collector, etc, across the street the Sheriff Substation needs office staff. Or what need there is for office staff during off hours at a location w/ no booking.
I went to Appalachicola and they had a trailer that was there THAT DAY so people could get our daily services, so I am running low on the outrage when noone has demonstrated a change in service level.

Good Information

The SoWal Substation used to be open and staffed 24/7. Investigators, Narcotics, Patrol and Admin were all in that building. SoWal Dispatchers also were in there.

Two separate issues here; Dispatch and SO Staff.

As for Dispatch, it is good that they are consolidating the dispatch, it is and has been a mess.

As for SO Staff, that is of concern. It is Spring Break and with the way things are today, I would feel it very appropriate to have that multimillion dollar building staffed 24/7. SoWal residents deserve much more then a phone out side, we pay a majority of the damn taxes, provide us with service.

Here is a game, when you go to work, start to count the number of SO Officers you see during your day. Keep a little log. Break it down by Sandestin Area, Santa Rosa Beach Area and Inlet Beach Area. Let's see where everyone is... If you want to get creative, break it down by Beach Patrol and Regular Patrol. Maybe you can even request a calls for service account of that day and see the productivity.

I am tired of walking the beach and seeing bottles and dogs off leashes. I also saw grown adults "playing on the dunes". Where is the Beach Partrol? Oh, they are at Sandestin, much more important. At least we have the fine men and women of the SWFD, unfortunately they do not have authority to cite any of the numerous violators. Keep in mind this would also generate revenue for the County (fines that is).

When will deputies been patrolling our neighborhoods? I have not seen one in two months... With the new 12 hour shifts, I would think more feet on the street and not in a seat up north eah?

Jdarg reported a few months ago on SoWal.com that the Sheriff's substation was no longer being used for fingerprints, so this isn't new news. You guys also may have missed that last year, the Sheriff's helicopter and AirHeart 1 was relocated to Defuniak Springs rather than South Walton.

I think it is a crock that I have to drive to DeFuniak to get basic services like fingerprinting or copies of reports when my tax dollars paid for a perfectly good building in SRB to house those services in. You would think 89% of the take would get us better. I don't care where the 911 and helicopter are housed though. Seems like consolidating would save money if positions are eliminated.

Jdarg reported a few months ago on SoWal.com that the Sheriff's substation was no longer being used for fingerprints, so this isn't new news. You guys also may have missed that last year, the Sheriff's helicopter and AirHeart 1 was relocated to Defuniak Springs rather than South Walton.

The SO helicopter still flies out of the south end i seen them there the other day. they do have 2 helicopters though.


The issue i have is you cannot get finger printed any where but a law enforcement office that i know of. Also i receicved finger printing there just last month and i spoke with the deputy at the desk and he said they were moving the dispatch north and he would be the only one left in the office but a space for deputies to do paperwork.

They moved all personall out of this building and put them up north. Now if you need a investigator to work a crime then they must come from DFS.

Tell me one other place that is as big as SOWAL in out area i must drive 31 miles to take care of bussiness with the SO.

I think it is a crock that I have to drive to DeFuniak to get basic services like fingerprinting or copies of reports when my tax dollars paid for a perfectly good building in SRB to house those services in. You would think 89% of the take would get us better. I don't care where the 911 and helicopter are housed though. Seems like consolidating would save money if positions are eliminated.

I thought Pennington gave McMillian the money for that station.

The SO helicopter still flies out of the south end i seen them there the other day. they do have 2 helicopters though.


The issue i have is you cannot get finger printed any where but a law enforcement office that i know of. Also i receicved finger printing there just last month and i spoke with the deputy at the desk and he said they were moving the dispatch north and he would be the only one left in the office but a space for deputies to do paperwork.

They moved all personall out of this building and put them up north. Now if you need a investigator to work a crime then they must come from DFS.

I had to drive to Pensacola to get some sort of a license a few years ago from the State. I thought that was pretty bad considering Ft. Walton and PC have pretty good populations. I would have gladly only driven 31 miles instead of the 95 I had to drive.