Alachua County Sheriff's Office

Mobile Communications Vehicle

The Combined Communications Center maintains and operates a Mobile Communications Vehicle (MCV) which is capable of performing a variety of functions. The vehicle is a 1997 39’ Blue Bird bus which was renovated and customized specifically for this purpose by Van-Mor, Inc. of Ocala, Florida (www.van-mor.com).

The unique design of the MCV makes it a valuable resource on both a local and regional level. The MCV can be described as a “mobile dispatch center” which can operate in a remote location. The vehicle can operate using an on-board generator or shore power, making it completely self-sufficient for extended periods of time.

The vehicle is divided into sections, one of which is a 5 position dispatch center, a kitchen/restroom area, and a conference/planning area. The MCV contains multiple VHF, UHF, 800 MHz, aviation, marine, and amateur radios along with cellular telephones and computers which permit communications with all law enforcement and fire-rescue agencies in Alachua County as well as other counties throughout the region.

The MCV can be deployed to provide communications and command support during major incidents, sporting events, special teams operations, or mutual aid requests. The MCV is activated each year during the Gatornationals races. Specially trained teams of dispatch personnel staff the vehicle during each deployment and are able to alleviate a significant amount of call volume and workload for the Combined Communications Center by bringing the dispatch operations out into the field.