Sheriff's Office
Communications/E911
Chief of Communications Deputy Chief of Communications
Steve West Dar Lin Sanchez
(509)447-1912 (509)447-1950
Office hours: 24hrs a day, 7 days a week
Phone: Dial 911 for Emergencies or 509-447-3151
Location: 331 South Garden Avenue, Newport, Washington
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5075, Newport, WA 99156
Communications Mission:
Operations of the Communications Center is a very important function of the Sheriff's Department, both for the members of our department and for the other law enforcement and public safety agencies and organizations that are dependant on the Center for communcications and Enhanced 911 services.
It is the responsiblity of the Communications Center staff to provide prompt professional, courteous, calm and effective communications services to the public and our user agencies.
Our Public and User Agencies:
We serve a population of approximately 12,000 residents in Pend Oreille County. However, with our beautiful lakes and Landscapes we are a hotspot for campers and boaters, hunters and hikers, fishermen and photographers from all over the country. We cover a total area of 1,425 square miles of which 1,400 square miles of it is land and 25 square mile of it is water.
We serve the Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office, the Cities of Newport, Usk, Cusick, Ione, Metaline and Metaline Falls. We also serve the Kalispel Tribal Police and their newly established Kalispel Fire Department. We answer fire and emergency medical calls for 10 Fire Districts, most of which are manned by volunteers. We dispatch for two ambulance agencies, Newport Ambulance which covers the south end of the county and Fire District 2 which covers the north part of the county. We work closely with Washington State Patrol, Fish and Game, US Border Patrol, US Forest Service and DNR
Our Staff:
  
We currently employ 10 full-time communications officers. They are responsible for answering all calls; both 911 emergency calls and non-emergency calls for the Sheriff's Office. Last year we handled 7,159 emergency 911 calls and 54,508 other non-emergency calls. The communications officers also dispatch all calls for service for police, fire and medical, operating a multi-frequency digital radio system. The communications staff is also responsible for the in-house records maintenance for the Sheriff's Office. They are required to process outstanding warrants, restraining and protection orders, and other documentation provided from the Superior and District courts as well as the Probation Department.
A Deputy Chief of Communications oversees the personnel and daily operation of the Communications Center and the Chief of Communications/911 Administator oversees the annual operating budget, inspection of activities, personnel and equipment of the Communications Center ensuring that all Federal, State and County laws and requirments are met.
We are the central hub of information between the public, other county agencies and businesses, and all the local public safety agencies that serve Pend Oreille County citizens and visitors. We are a 24 hour, 365 day a year operation. Generally, two Communications Officers are on duty during two of our three shifts. The third shift may have only one Communications Officer depending on staffing.
Learn More:
What happens after I call 911?
What if I have a Fire or a Medical Emergency?
Take a Communications Tour Online
Recieve Emergency Alerts Via the Sheriff's Office Twitter Account
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