Facts: Imperial County Public Safety Needs

Imperial County public safety professionals work every day to protect local families, respond during emergencies, assist during natural disasters, and keep communities safe throughout the region.

Today, Imperial County’s public safety system faces growing challenges caused by aging facilities, deteriorating equipment, outdated technology, and limited resources.

Sixty percent (60%) of all Imperial County 911 calls are medical emergencies, including heart attacks, strokes, and serious car accidents. In some areas of the county, the nearest ambulance can still be as much as an hour away.

Imperial County spans nearly 4,500 square miles, creating major public safety challenges. Long travel distances can delay emergency response times and require deputies to spend hours transporting suspects to the County’s only jail facility.

Imperial County lacks the modern communications infrastructure and emergency coordination facilities needed to effectively respond to earthquakes, floods, active shooter incidents, major power outages, and other public safety emergencies.

Unlike many California counties, Imperial County still operates without a modern Emergency Operations Center (EOC), forcing emergency personnel to rely on outdated dispatch and communications systems during critical incidents.

Several Imperial County fire stations are now more than 50 years old. Some firefighters and paramedics still operate out of trailers that cannot adequately support modern emergency response equipment or personnel.

The County Coroner’s Office is so outdated and undersized that all autopsies must be sent to San Diego County, often causing painful delays for grieving families waiting for loved ones to be returned.

Because Imperial County has only one jail facility, sheriff’s deputies may spend hours transporting suspects across the county, reducing the number of deputies available to patrol and respond to emergencies in local communities.

Millions of people and vehicles cross the U.S. border into Imperial County each year, increasing demands on local law enforcement, emergency medical services, and public safety personnel.

More severe weather events, including dangerous flash flooding, are placing additional strain on Imperial County’s emergency response system and increasing the need for modern public safety infrastructure and equipment.