The San Diego County Sheriff's Department Auxiliary Communications Service is made up of specially trained communications volunteers managed by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Communications Center. These volunteers help provide support when there is a need for supplemental communications during planned events and emergencies.

Using Amateur Radio, public safety radio networks, and other communications systems, ACS volunteers are prepared to provide emergency auxiliary radio communications during disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or wildfires. When the San Diego County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated during these types of incidents, ACS provides communication support and works with the County of San Diego's Office of Emergency Services, the various cities in San Diego County, the American Red Cross, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), the State of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and many other emergency management and disaster organizations.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department owns and maintains a network of closed Amateur Radio repeaters in various bands to facilitate auxiliary communications support during planned events, emergencies, and disasters.

ACS is the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) organization for the San Diego County Operational Area as outlined in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 97, Section 407 of the Federal Communications Commission Rules and Regulations. ACS is granted this authority by the San Diego County Unified Disaster Council

Expectations and Requirements of ACS Volunteers:

• Willingness to serve during pre-planned events, emergency incidents and disasters
• Comply with the requirements of Sheriff Department and County policies and procedures
• Complete self-paced, online training of FEMA ICS courses
• Complete the tasks outlined in the ACS "Auxiliary Emergency Communicator Position Task Book"
• Attend three module training courses (4 hours each module)
• Attend a minimum of four monthly general meetings each year, with two of the meetings attended being between January-June, and two between July-December
• Participate in at least six weekly ACS Amateur Radio Nets each year. The weekly net is conducted on Monday nights at 1930 hours
• Serve as Net Control Operator for the ACS Weekly Net at least once yearly
• Obtain, assemble, and maintain equipment and supplies in a portable kit (referred to as a Go-Bag) to be self-sustained during an emergency event for at least a 12-hour period
• Attend or complete other training or tasks as determined by the Sheriff's Department or the County of San Diego

To learn more about volunteering for the Auxiliary Communications Service, send an email to acs@sdsheriff.org.