The Valley Emergency Communications Center for Pima County Arizona (VECC) was created by an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Drexel Heights Fire District and the Green Valley Fire District in 2014. The VECC is one of three fire emergency 911 regional dispatch sites in the Tucson area. The VECC operates under the management of the Drexel Heights Fire District. The VECC dispatches fire and medical emergency calls for several other fire service agencies including Arivaca, Corona de Tucson, Green Valley, Rincon Valley, and the Tohono O`odham – San Xavier District.
The VECC is housed at the Pima Emergency Communications and Operations Center alongside the Pima County Sheriff’s Department communications operation at 3434 E. 22nd Street in Tucson. The new state of the art center was developed as part of a Pima County bond program which also created an interoperable radio network commonly known as PCWIN. The VECC, Pima County Sheriff, Tucson Police and Fire in addition to other agencies, all operate on this new interoperable radio network.
Information coming to the center is entered into a Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) program. The CAD program has the ability to determine responses, track unit movements and correlate information for use in determining the type of emergency and assistance needed. When the incident location is established the emergency response crews are dispatched. The Communication Specialists working at the communication center can also provide callers with Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) assistance. When a Communication Specialists provides EMD, they are providing information and instructions to the caller to assist them until emergency personnel arrive on scene. An example of EMD assistance is how to perform CPR.
The 911 system, when properly used, can save lives by saving time, but first responders can’t help you if we can’t find you. To assist emergency personnel get to you when needed, make sure your address is clearly visible from the street. Number should be at least four inches tall and in a reflective material. We also recommend that your address be posted in more than one
location (ex: mailbox, curb, front & rear of house, alley wall, and in the more rural areas of the County, even the roof).
The VECC operates under a cooperative agreement with a Governing Board. The Center is managed on a day-to-day basis by a Manger. The governing board known as the Policy Board includes representatives of the Drexel Heights and Green Valley Fire Districts. The other agencies have representation on the Operations Board and are considered subscribers under the cooperative agreement.