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Computerized Dispatching OK'd - Kiss Those Scanners Goodbye
www.thenews-journal.com
By Victoriana Summers - Staff writer - The News Journal, Raeford NC (Hoke County) - January 4, 2006
Hoke commissioners last night approved a new computerized dispatching system, ensuring there will soon be a lot of “dead air” at the local command center and on scanners monitored by residents across the county. Future emergency calls will be directly transmitted via a wireless computer system to law enforcement, rescue and fire personnel rather than by “audible” radio, according to E-9-1-1 communications director Jimmy Stewart. However, FirstHealth of the Carolinas medics will not be on the system unless FirstHealth is willing to pay for the software and computers required to operate it.
“Our emergency calls have grown ten percent per year,” Stewart said of demand for services. “In ten years, we have doubled our responses. It would take a load off our dispatching for routine stuff which is becoming more of a burden. We could attend to more hot calls. Right now, criminals can figure out where everything is at in the county.”
Rather like a military stealth bomber evading radar detection by an enemy, the mobile dispatch system would prevent criminals from intercepting the location and nature of an emergency call. Mobile data terminals (MDTs) capability would also prevent criminals from monitoring the activities of the Hoke Sheriff’s Office when a crime or drug bust may be in progress. According to E-9-1-1 statistics, Hoke communications handled 65,000 calls requesting emergency service from January 1 to December 30, 2005 that were processed via radio transmissions.
Other activities such as warrant information and record keeping is currently tying up the dispatch system. With MDT, telecommunicators could inform law officers in their vehicles more efficiently of an emergency request, Stewart said, and deputies could also check directly on the status of criminal backgrounds and warrants. Deputies would use MDT units in their vehicles without contacting E-9-1-1 for routine issues.
Stewart is asking the county to convert to the mobile dispatch system, costing approximately $450,000, to lease the equipment and software over a period of five years. If approved, payment on the lease would not begin until the next fiscal year. Funding for the system would be allocated from Hoke’s general fund, but the county would own the equipment at the end of the lease, he said.
“There is no additional certification required for people to operate the system,” Stewart said. “Training would come from Vision, the firm that would complete the installation. Most of the software will last forever. The mobile data terminals would have to be replaced every five to six years.” If the system is not installed, Stewart advised the board that more telecommunicators would have to be hired in the future for the E-9-1-1 center. He said he preferred to invest moneys in “better technology” to reduce the communication center’s workload rather than adding additional personnel.
Hoke’s board of commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the system. Commissioners Bill Cameron and Charles V. Daniels were against approving it until the board discussed it in more detail at upcoming budget workshops. They said they were looking out for taxpayers’ moneys to be sure the county could afford the new system. However, Commission Chairman Bobby Wright and Commissioner James A. Leach said it would help expedite emergency help for citizens.
“Our population is growing as well as our calls for service,” Stewart said. “Since 1989 when our communications center was first formed, I am pleased to say, we have one of the finest 9-1-1 centers in the state. However, right now, we are somewhat fragmented. With this mobile system, we could speed up responses for warrants.” Stewart commended the Sheriff’s Office in its diligence. Stewart indicated more people, who are wanted for property crimes, are being “caught” on a daily basis by deputies and detectives. However, Stewart said with that effort comes a higher call volume on the E-9-1-1 system.
“There are more stolen weapons being recovered and more stolen cars being found,” Stewart said. “The Sheriff’s Office and the Raeford Police are very aggressive over the return of stolen property.” Stewart said the wireless system would be a savings and safety factor that outweighs the initial start-up expenses. He said the Hoke E-9-1-1 Advisory Board has recommended the system be installed. “It will save some money in the long run,” Stewart said. “It allows law officers to enter routine statuses from the field. They can enter themselves on business checks, warrant services, on and off duty, meals, follow-ups or any other service that we currently use.”
By using mobile data terminals , E-9-1-1 telecommunicators would transmit emergency requests via computer directly to the vehicles of Hoke Sheriff’s deputies, Raeford police, firefighters and rescue personnel. This technique would replace most transmissions over the airwaves, Stewart added. Stewart said another advantage would be MDTs could be utilized as a way to daily track the jail population. Records of inmates would become a permanent part of the information system in the event they might be implicated in future crimes after their release from jail.
In a recent presentation to the board, Stewart and John Joseph, special investigator for the Hoke District Attorney’s Office, urged commissioners to approve the proposed system. “I think we have made many strides,” Joseph, who is a member of the E-9-1-1 board, said. “We have by far one of the best centers within 75 miles. The reality is if you (commissiones) do not address this system, you will be addressing it in the future. It will be better for fire protection, and it will help to lower insurance rates for citizens.”
Joseph said MDTs would also be beneficial to the DA’s office in tracking inmates waiting for trail. “The DA’s office is keeping up with who is in the jail every morning, but our problem is that by lunch those numbers are obsolete,” Joseph said. “We are hoping we can tie into something so we can monitor our jail population more closely. Fire Departments would also send fire reports on this system to state government. Every fire department would have a central integrated system,” he said. “Every department would benefit considerably from this program.”
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Sounds like the "Hooterville" Gazette
www.thenews-journal.com
By Victoriana Summers - Staff writer - The News Journal, Raeford NC (Hoke County) - January 4, 2006
Hoke commissioners last night approved a new computerized dispatching system, ensuring there will soon be a lot of “dead air” at the local command center and on scanners monitored by residents across the county. Future emergency calls will be directly transmitted via a wireless computer system to law enforcement, rescue and fire personnel rather than by “audible” radio, according to E-9-1-1 communications director Jimmy Stewart. However, FirstHealth of the Carolinas medics will not be on the system unless FirstHealth is willing to pay for the software and computers required to operate it.
“Our emergency calls have grown ten percent per year,” Stewart said of demand for services. “In ten years, we have doubled our responses. It would take a load off our dispatching for routine stuff which is becoming more of a burden. We could attend to more hot calls. Right now, criminals can figure out where everything is at in the county.”
Rather like a military stealth bomber evading radar detection by an enemy, the mobile dispatch system would prevent criminals from intercepting the location and nature of an emergency call. Mobile data terminals (MDTs) capability would also prevent criminals from monitoring the activities of the Hoke Sheriff’s Office when a crime or drug bust may be in progress. According to E-9-1-1 statistics, Hoke communications handled 65,000 calls requesting emergency service from January 1 to December 30, 2005 that were processed via radio transmissions.
Other activities such as warrant information and record keeping is currently tying up the dispatch system. With MDT, telecommunicators could inform law officers in their vehicles more efficiently of an emergency request, Stewart said, and deputies could also check directly on the status of criminal backgrounds and warrants. Deputies would use MDT units in their vehicles without contacting E-9-1-1 for routine issues.
Stewart is asking the county to convert to the mobile dispatch system, costing approximately $450,000, to lease the equipment and software over a period of five years. If approved, payment on the lease would not begin until the next fiscal year. Funding for the system would be allocated from Hoke’s general fund, but the county would own the equipment at the end of the lease, he said.
“There is no additional certification required for people to operate the system,” Stewart said. “Training would come from Vision, the firm that would complete the installation. Most of the software will last forever. The mobile data terminals would have to be replaced every five to six years.” If the system is not installed, Stewart advised the board that more telecommunicators would have to be hired in the future for the E-9-1-1 center. He said he preferred to invest moneys in “better technology” to reduce the communication center’s workload rather than adding additional personnel.
Hoke’s board of commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the system. Commissioners Bill Cameron and Charles V. Daniels were against approving it until the board discussed it in more detail at upcoming budget workshops. They said they were looking out for taxpayers’ moneys to be sure the county could afford the new system. However, Commission Chairman Bobby Wright and Commissioner James A. Leach said it would help expedite emergency help for citizens.
“Our population is growing as well as our calls for service,” Stewart said. “Since 1989 when our communications center was first formed, I am pleased to say, we have one of the finest 9-1-1 centers in the state. However, right now, we are somewhat fragmented. With this mobile system, we could speed up responses for warrants.” Stewart commended the Sheriff’s Office in its diligence. Stewart indicated more people, who are wanted for property crimes, are being “caught” on a daily basis by deputies and detectives. However, Stewart said with that effort comes a higher call volume on the E-9-1-1 system.
“There are more stolen weapons being recovered and more stolen cars being found,” Stewart said. “The Sheriff’s Office and the Raeford Police are very aggressive over the return of stolen property.” Stewart said the wireless system would be a savings and safety factor that outweighs the initial start-up expenses. He said the Hoke E-9-1-1 Advisory Board has recommended the system be installed. “It will save some money in the long run,” Stewart said. “It allows law officers to enter routine statuses from the field. They can enter themselves on business checks, warrant services, on and off duty, meals, follow-ups or any other service that we currently use.”
By using mobile data terminals , E-9-1-1 telecommunicators would transmit emergency requests via computer directly to the vehicles of Hoke Sheriff’s deputies, Raeford police, firefighters and rescue personnel. This technique would replace most transmissions over the airwaves, Stewart added. Stewart said another advantage would be MDTs could be utilized as a way to daily track the jail population. Records of inmates would become a permanent part of the information system in the event they might be implicated in future crimes after their release from jail.
In a recent presentation to the board, Stewart and John Joseph, special investigator for the Hoke District Attorney’s Office, urged commissioners to approve the proposed system. “I think we have made many strides,” Joseph, who is a member of the E-9-1-1 board, said. “We have by far one of the best centers within 75 miles. The reality is if you (commissiones) do not address this system, you will be addressing it in the future. It will be better for fire protection, and it will help to lower insurance rates for citizens.”
Joseph said MDTs would also be beneficial to the DA’s office in tracking inmates waiting for trail. “The DA’s office is keeping up with who is in the jail every morning, but our problem is that by lunch those numbers are obsolete,” Joseph said. “We are hoping we can tie into something so we can monitor our jail population more closely. Fire Departments would also send fire reports on this system to state government. Every fire department would have a central integrated system,” he said. “Every department would benefit considerably from this program.”
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Sounds like the "Hooterville" Gazette
