PURPOSE:
Provides to the citizens and emergency responders of Erie County a comprehensive program of 9-1-1 and emergency dispatch services; emergency management, including but not limited to emergency planning, training and resource management; hazardous materials planning, training and response. The Department works closely with appropriate municipal, County, state and federal agencies in order to carry out its mission. CUSTOMERS:
~ Residents of Erie County
~ 38 Municipalities of Erie County
~ Emergency Service Providers of Erie County
~ Schools, Civic and Public Service Organizations
~ Local Business and Industry
~ State, County and Local Officials
~ State and Federal Emergency Management Officials
~ Media Broadcast Stations
AUTHORITY:
~ Pennsylvania Emergency Services Code, 35 Pa. C.S.
~ 4 PA Code Chapter 120b Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act
~ 4 PA Code Chapter 120c Training and Certification Standards
~ 4 PA Code Chapter 120d Performance Review and Quality Assurance Standards
~ Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission
~ Erie County Administrative Code as revised and reenacted November 1, 2007, Section 11, “Department of Public Safety”.
~ Erie County Directives, Policy and Procedures
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SERVICES:
~ Provide public safety call taking and dispatch services without interruption, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
~ Provide public service information to the community and emergency response agencies regarding 911 issues.
~ Provide training and quality assurance services as required by State regulations.
~ Provide preventative maintenance to existing emergency communication sites throughout the county.
~ Facilitate the design, equipment purchase, and implementation of a comprehensive, interoperable, communications system that will service all public safety agencies in Erie County. TRENDS IN USE OF SERVICES:
~ Continued participation (direct involvement) as a member of the Legislative Government Affairs Committee as it relates to the legislative re-write of the Pennsylvania Emergency Services Code, 35 Pa. C.S.
~ Enhancement of staff expertise and competency levels.
~ Continuation of the consolidation of Countywide emergency communications services.
~ Implementation of Next Generation Public Safety Radio System (APCO P25 Phase II Trunked UHF Simulcast Repeated Radio System) to provide reliable, interoperable communications among Emergency Service Providers on a common frequency that meets or exceeds National Industry Standards with consideration given to include Public Transportation, Public Works, School Districts, etc.
~ Continued participation in the Regional Shared Services Assessment - The feasibility of emergency services internet protocol-based networks (ESInet) and equipment sharing/regionalization of the PSAPs in a coordinated effort across the Commonwealth. Northern Tier Regional Telecommunications (telephony) project, a ten County consortium sharing the capital and reoccurring expenses of a 9-1-1 system resulted in a savings of approx. $358,000. Additional (future) regional initiatives / projects include sharing of computer- aided dispatch systems, geographic information systems, voice logging recorders, etc.)
~ Establish redundancy of the Erie County Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) / Dispatch Center among other County PSAPs with a regional approach, eliminating the need for a physical redundant center located in Erie County in the event of an evacuation or catastrophic failure.
~ Maintain current on emerging technology / systems (i.e. Next Generation 9-1-1), offering the most advanced services such as "Text-to-911, Photos, Streaming Video, Telematics, etc.
~ Establish a centralized record management system for all County Law Enforcement Agencies, a central repository of crime data; sharing information across jurisdictional boundaries; crime mapping; outstanding warrants, etc.
~ Remain current on geo-referenced, aerial, oblique image libraries and software (Pictometry) that are incorporated with the Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD) and Geographic Information System (GIS) software. These software resources are utilized 24/7 to provide a fast response to emergencies that threaten the lives and property of citizens of Erie County. Physical fully-redundant backup center for 9-1-1 and Emergency Management, to include the Emergency Operations Center.
2. Enhancement of current 800MHz Mobile Data Network to facilitate the computer aided dispatch system, mobile data and AVL amongst Emergency Service Providers.
3. Enhancement of current communications equipment / infrastructure utilized by Erie County Emergency Service Providers in an effort to improve interoperable communications amongst users.
4. Design a new Next Generation Public Safety Radio System (APCO P25 Phase II Trunked UHF Simulcast Repeated Radio System) to provide reliable, interoperable communications among Emergency Service Providers on a common frequency that meets or exceeds National Industry Standards with consideration given to include Public Transportation, Public Works, School Districts, etc.
5. Participation in the Regional Shared Services Assessment – Assesses the feasibility of Emergency Services Internet Protocol-based Networks (ESInet) and equipment sharing/regionalization of the PSAPs in a coordinated effort across the Commonwealth. Erie County joining the Northern Tier Regional Telecommunications (telephony) project, a ten County consortium sharing the capital and reoccurring expenses of a 9-1-1 system resulted in a savings of approx. $358,000. Additional (future) regional initiatives / projects include sharing of computer-aided dispatch systems, geographic information systems, voice logging recorders, etc.
6. Pictometry GIS Project – Pictometry provides geo-referenced, aerial, oblique image libraries and software that can be incorporated with the Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD) and Geographic Information System (GIS) software. This project is collaborative effort between three County Departments (Assessment, Planning and Public Safety).
7. Record Management System for all County Law Enforcement Agencies, a central repository of crime data; sharing information across jurisdictional boundaries; crime mapping; outstanding warrants, etc.
8. Establish a centrally located Erie County Public Safety Training Center where all Public Safety Service Organizations train, take classes and participate in certification requirements. This facility would also establish educational services for high school programs in County high schools for Emergency Medical Technician, Firefighter Certification, Fundamental of Telecommunications, etc.
9. The Erie County Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) would provide guidance on future public safety initiatives and disaster response programs throughout Erie County.
10. PSAC should include emergency management in existing and future community planning projects thus making these projects more beneficial to the community and more resilient to future disasters.
11. PSAC should establish and promote a Citizens Corp Council to promote volunteerism and community knowledge and participation in public safety and disaster response planning, projects and initiatives.
12. PSAC should further move to consolidate County-wide communications to include emergency and non-emergency call taking and dispatch services for Law, Fire, EMS, and Emergency Management functions.
13. Collaboration between Emergency Service Providers, Local Municipalities, the Department of Public Safety and the PSAC would improve emergency services and provide a timely, efficient response throughout Erie County based on sharing regional assets and resources.
14. Public Safety Telecommunicator Observation Program – An observation program which affords students and members of the public safety community to sit as observers in the communications center environment with our on-duty Public Safety Telecommunications staff to educate themselves on the 9-1-1 call taking / dispatch process.
15. Public Alert Siren System – An all-hazard alert (siren) system used to warn the general population of potential danger. Severe weather is the most common threat. Public Alert Sirens will be activated under other conditions: Tornado Warning, Flooding, Terrorist Attack, evacuations, shelter in place, etc.
16. Enhance the “I Am Responding” Program to further improve response times within Erie County.
17. Research National Dispatch Protocol Systems, to ensure that Erie County remains on the cutting edge of available dispatch protocol systems.
18. Enhance Quality Assurance Program to generate higher overall compliance levels to meet or exceed performance review and quality assurance standards set forth by 4 PA Administrative Code Chapter 120d.
19. Review of current staffing patterns to ensure minimum staffing requirements are maintained and improved employee morale & job satisfaction.
20. Review policy & procedures to ensure they remain pertinent to current and future 9-1-1 / dispatch operations.
21. Establish operational policies and procedures for future Next Generation 911 technologies.
22. Obtain Certified Professional Supervisor Certification for all Shift Commander Staff for continuous improvement of supervisory skills.
23. Further enhancing staff expertise and competency levels with improved formal education, including review and revision to our current curriculum(s), as required.
