Culver City Will Move Dispatch for Fire and Police to South Bay Center

policedispatchOn the recommendation of the Culver City Police and Fire Departments, the City of Culver City has opted to join the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority, also known as the Regional Communications Center (RCC) and to discontinue the current departmental operations filling that need.

Mayor Jim Clarke noted that the change offered a number benefits, as a way to both reduce costs and improve service. “We think that the RCC is a top-notch service provider, and that they can take care of police and fire dispatch with speed and security.”

The move will go into effect in 2017. Located in Hawthorne, the RCC has provided police and fire 9-1-1 dispatching to local governments since 1977. The RCC processes approximately 250,000 police and fire incidents annually and currently services the cities of Hawthorne, Gardena, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, and Hermosa Beach.

Benefits to the community will include faster 911 call processing times. As a regional dispatch center, the RCC has the staffing to process and dispatch emergency 911 calls more efficiently than a smaller communications center, which means faster response times for both police and fire. In addition, RCC dispatchers have the training to offer lifesaving first aid instructions to 911 callers while they await the arrival of paramedics, a practice that can improve service to the community and can help save lives.

There will also be enhanced 911 for cellular phones. The RCC’s dispatching equipment and mapping software is able to track all 911 calls from a cell phone using GPS coordinates, very much like the mapping feature on any smartphone. This is an important feature as many cellphone callers have difficulty describing their location if they are not at home.

Even more technological advancement will kick in with next generation 911 which will include text and video 911 capabilities. These features will allow 911 callers to communicate vital information to dispatchers via text messaging or video, a critical feature during emergency situations wherein a 911 caller is unable to speak. The “text to 911” feature will also improve Police and Fire services for Culver City’s hearing impaired population.

Surge capacity- The RCC’s daily staffing levels will fluctuate between 9 to 13 dispatchers in addition to a dispatch supervisor that will also be present at all times. Because of these staffing levels, the RCC is able to handle a large volume, or surge, of 911 calls related to a major incident or multiple simultaneous emergency situations. This type of surge capacity is very difficult if not impossible for a smaller communications center to duplicate.

Mayor Clarke emphasized the jobs were not being lost. Several current Culver City dispatchers are going to join the RCC. This will provide those dispatchers with opportunities to promote into manager positions if they so choose. There are other dispatchers who have chosen to remain Culver City employees within a different job classification and some have decided to take advantage of an early retirement incentive.

The Police and Fire Departments are confident that the RCC will provide the Culver City community with a superior level of service.

Not only will resources be better utilized, but lives will be saved.

The Actors' Gang

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*