Issue link: http://lawandordermag.epubxp.com/i/109778
that opened in the fall of 2007, consolidating the work of fve PSAPs and 12 law enforcement agencies into a single facility. The DCC provides centralized, state-of-the-art 9-1-1 and emergency dispatch services (police, sheriff, fre, and emergency medical) effectively and effciently at a lower cost to taxpayers in all Dakota County cities and townships. The DCC is committed to the highest standards of integrity and customer service, effective acquisition and dissemination of information, accountability for performance and conduct, and continuous improvement through professional development. With projected savings of $8 million in operating costs over a fve-year period, and an advanced 800 MHz communications system allowing seamless communication between agencies, the DCC serves as the paradigm for successful consolidation. Challenges of Effective Consolidation ���ProQA has a very robust inference engine that borders on Artifcial Intelligence (AI) and adjusts the key questions and instructions based on the answers to previous questions,��� said Shawn Messinger, Police Consultant and Emergency Police Dispatch instructor for Priority Dispatch. ���This assures that only the next appropriate question and instructions are prompted for each specifc call.��� Post-Dispatch Instructions and Critical EFD Information appropriate for the Chief Complaint are presented on the PDI/CEI tab. The PDI Completed buttons give calltakers the ability to document the PDIs they provided to the caller, and this information is stored in the ProQA database for future reference. Critical Dispatch Life Support instructions can be quickly accessed with the DLS Links button, while the DLS Tab provides the Case Exit and Pre-Arrival Instructions appropriate for the case. A complete recap of all the information collected during call processing can be accessed in the Summary Tab. Numerous cities, counties, law enforcement agencies, and communications centers currently use EFD Fire, EMD Medical, and EPD Police ProQA software. The city of Danville, Va. began using the EMD version of ProQA for their emergency 9-1-1 services approximately 10 years ago. In 2010, as part of an effort to develop consistency across the board, the city purchased the system for the fre department and Sheriff���s Offce. According to Assistant Fire Chief Steve Dishman, the ProQA has been extremely effective in handling the pre-arrival information that is obtained and dispatched. Priority Dispatch Corp. also provided extensive hands-on technical training for the software, as well as certifcation courses designed to help emergency personnel better comprehend the system for safe and effective implementation. Messinger pointed out ���users of the protocols literally become part of the largest dispatch users group in the world. They join over 3,000 centers from 42 countries that are processing almost 80 million calls per year with the protocols. This allows them to access a cumulative knowledge base from all of these centers, as well as provide their own experiences for the betterment of the whole. This vast and constantly improving base of ���industry best practices��� is a huge advantage for the users of the protocols, and is what provides them with a big liability shield.��� While successful consolidation of emergency services results in enhanced public safety at reduced taxpayer cost, the process requires extensive research and can be a daunting task. Many cities and counties are currently implementing feasibility studies to weigh the pros and cons of consolidation. In addition to determining if consolidation makes sense from a service level point of view, legal, political, technological, and fnancial perspectives have to be considered. Consolidation vs. Centralization For cities and counties where consolidation is not feasible, ���centralization��� may prove a viable alternative. Messinger pointed out consolidation refers to physically moving or combining two or more communication centers or entities into one location. With centralization, the individual communica- ProQA is really a liability shield. www.lawandordermag.com 27