(625) El Centro
Phone: (760) 312-1800
Address:
2331 U.S. Highway 86
Imperial, CA 92251
Hours:
Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
The El Centro Area office is located in Imperial County in the southeast region of California. Imperial County extends over 4,597 square miles, bordering with Mexico to the south, Riverside County to the north, San Diego County on the west, and the Winterhaven CHP Area on the east. The terrain varies from 235 feet below sea level at the Salton Sea to 4,548 feet above sea level at Blue Angel Peak. The Area is responsible for 408 miles of state highways and 2,600 miles of county roads. Our office staff consists of 42 uniformed employees, and 4 non-uniformed support staff. The Area is managed by a captain and a lieutenant.
Although this region is a desert, receiving low rainfall of less than three inches per year, the main source of commerce in Imperial County is farming. A vast system of canals, check dams, and pipelines carry farm irrigation water throughout the valley by way of a distribution system that includes over 1,400 miles of canals with 1,100 miles of pipeline.
The climate in the Imperial Valley is hot and dry, ranging from lows in the mid 30's in January to extreme highs of 110+ in July and August. Imperial County is a vast open area that has many places for people to enjoy the outdoors. Such recreational areas include the Laguna Mountains, the Salton Sea which is the state’s largest inland lake, and the Glamis Dunes, which is one of the largest sand dune fields in America.
The El Centro Dispatch Center (ECDC) is staffed by 12 public safety dispatchers and 2 dispatch supervisors. The ECDC is part of the El Centro Area Office and provides communications and support services for the El Centro Area, Winterhaven Area, Calexico Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility, and the Sidewinder Platform Scales Facility. Additional dispatch and coordination services are provided to the CHP Border Division Mexico Liaison Unit Officers, Investigative Services Unit Vehicle Theft Investigators, Motor Carrier Specialists, and K9 units, as well as guest users such as the Union Pacific Railroad Police, California Department of Fish and Game, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Our dedicated team of dispatchers is committed to the mission of the California Highway Patrol, providing safety, service, and security to the public. Their general duties include adhering to CALNENA 9-1-1 call answering times, highway callboxes, and emergency telephone calls transferred from allied agencies. They dispatch officers to traffic collisions, disabled motorists, other requests for service, and serve as an essential point of contact for resources needed by officers in the field. The ECDC is linked directly to the CHP Emergency Notification Tactical Alert Center (ENTAC).
Commander's Message:
Captain Ruedas began his CHP career in the West Valley Area of Los Angeles, working road patrol, focusing on the apprehension of impaired drivers. Captain Ruedas then worked in the San Diego Area before being assigned to the Mexico Liaison Unit; focusing on locating and identifying stolen U.S. vehicles taken into Mexico while identifying vehicle thieves and ensuring their prosecution. Captain Ruedas was then assigned to the Governor’s Protective Detail, tasked with the protection of California’s Governor and First Family. After promoting to the rank of Sergeant in 2014, Captain Ruedas worked at the Rancho Cucamonga Area, Calexico Inspection Facility and El Centro Area. In 2020 Captain Ruedas accepted a promotion to Lieutenant into the Central Los Angeles Area before transferring to the Indio Area and eventually back home to the EL Centro Area. Captain Ruedas has served the CHP and the people of California as an executive officer for the Special Response Team and team leader for the Critical Incident Investigation Team. Prior to the CHP, Captain Ruedas served as a United States Marine.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the community I was raised in. Being born in Mexicali and growing up in Heber and El Centro, I feel a deep connection to the people of the Imperial Valley. I believe in our mission of public and traffic safety as we work to make California the best place to live, work and travel. I am proud of the great work our uniformed members, dispatchers, professional and support staff do in providing the highest level of Safety, Service and Security to our community. I look forward to a continued collaborative working relationship with our law enforcement partners as we work together to accomplish our mission. I am grateful for all the support we receive from the public and our elected officials and I plan to work diligently to maintain the strong community partnerships that have been forged before me.”