The Marion County 911 system has undergone a $750,000 upgrade to the emergency answering service, and police record-keeping system, as well as new software to provide enhancements for community safety.
Marion County 911 Coordinator Stacey Arenas says ID Networks was selected as the Emergency Telephone Service Board’s partner to provide the base for the advanced technology.
“It integrates with a lot of the other applications that we are using such as Rapid SOS and Power Phone. It also integrates well with AXON which is a body cam some departments have moved to. Gives turn by turn direction to officers from where they are currently located to where the call is.”
Arenas says the new system streamlines compliance with state and federal crime reporting requirements, significantly reducing the time and effort previously required for accurate reporting. The system will also be able to transfer data between 911 dispatch centers utilizing the same equipment which includes Clinton and Washington Counties.
“This is a map based so when your 911 call comes in, it’s location-based so it will populate on the map fairly close to where the call is. Then turn by turn directions where to go and shows them in real-time on their way.”
The new Power Phone system at the Salem and Centralia 911 answering points offers a suite of features aimed at enhancing call handling efficiency and effectiveness. It will expand an established protocol for answering medical emergencies to fire and police calls.
The new Next Generation 911 Service replaces an analog network making it more reliable and efficient in utilizing GIS for location accuracy. By summer, Next Generation 911 will allow the ability to send text and multimedia messages to the 911 answering centers.
All of the improvements are being funded by 911 surcharge fees you pay each month on your phone bill.
Arenas has also announced she recently achieved the Emergency Number Professional Certification. The program sets a standard of competence recognized and accepted by the 911 profession, government agencies, the business community, and the general public.
