WC giving $4 million upgrade to 911 system

[x242Steve 1]

Westchester giving $4 million upgrade to 911 system

By Shawn Cohen

The Journal News

(Original Publication: December 12, 2006)

WHITE PLAINS - Westchester County is spending $4 million to upgrade its 911 system, replacing the aging technology that allows emergency calls from land-line phones to be routed directly to local police departments.

The multi-year project will replace answering equipment at police and fire departments throughout the county.

Calls will still be handled the same way, though the new computerized systems will allow police to more efficiently answer and dispatch responses to emergencies. Dispatchers will answer calls using a mouse to click on a screen rather than pushing a button on a phone, and they will be able to replay recorded calls with no delay.

"The time is right for an upgrade," said County Executive Andy Spano. "We haven't had any problems, but that's why we want to address the situation now. When it comes to emergency response, Westchester should continue setting the standard with top-notch capabilities and state-of-the-art equipment."

Existing equipment is nearing its life expectancy of about 15 years, Spano said. So far, upgrades have been completed for police in Elmsford, Pleasantville, Ossining village, Peekskill and Yorktown. New Rochelle is next, and other departments will be staggered over the next several years.

Edited December 13, 2006 by 242steve

[Guest]

While this is a positive improvement, i would much rather see the money spent on upgrading 60 control into a Westchester 911 center which dispatches all local FD, EMS and Police.

[emt301 4]

"The time is right for an upgrade," said County Executive Andy Spano. "We haven't had any problems, but that's why we want to address the situation now. When it comes to emergency response, Westchester should continue setting the standard with top-notch capabilities" ?????

If I didn't know better, I'd think Spano was refering to Dutchess County. WC unfortunately has a VERY long way to go before they set the standard with top-notch capabilities for dispatching emergency response....they need a CENTRALIZED 911 center if they are going to be top notch. Top notch capability is not achieved by having 50 some odd PSAPS, with some FD/EMS agencies being dispatched by 60-control, others by the PD's, and still others self-dispatching themselves. Not that Dutchess is perfect (it certainly isn't), but at least the county leadership managed to get all of the agencies together on the same page & cooperating with each other. Even if ALL FD/EMS agencies could be dispatched by 60-control, with PD dispatch remaining separate, it would be a HUGE improvement in dispatch quality & emergency response for the citizens of Westchester. If centralized 911 isn't possible, at least let the professional Fire/EMS dispatchers at 60 handle Fire/EMS, and let cops dispatch cops.

Edited December 13, 2006 by emt301