Crime & Safety

County Council Sends Regional Dispatch Measure To November Ballot

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department and West Pierce Fire & Rescue have both signed onto the proposed South Sound 911 system.

(Editor's note: Pierce County spokesman Hunter George just released the following)

Pierce County voters will be asked in November to establish a seamless, more efficient emergency communications system that improves safety for every resident and first responder.

The Pierce County Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to send the measure to the Nov. 8 General Election ballot.

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Bonney Lake opposes South Sound 911, read the letter to the editor . It could also cause problems regionally, read that article .

If voters approve the funding, a new agency called South Sound 911 will be created to update and improve critical communications equipment for participating law enforcement and fire agencies, particularly in light of looming federal mandates.

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"I am very proud of the support and cooperation among first-responder agencies that see the big picture with this South Sound 911 proposal," said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. "For a small investment - one penny on a $10 purchase - we can build an integrated dispatch and radio system that dramatically improves the safety of every single resident of Pierce County. I appreciate the County Council's willingness to send this to the ballot for voters to decide."

Added Council Chair Roger Bush (District 3): "This proposal provides a thoughtful and collaborative approach to addressing critical public safety needs throughout Pierce County. Public safety is our top priority, and I believe this is a compelling case for voters to consider. If the citizens approve this, they will get faster, more coordinated emergency services they can count on day and night."

Among other things, South Sound 911 is designed to assist agencies in complying with Federal Communications Commission requirements that reduce the operating bandwidth for first responders nationwide by Jan. 1, 2013. That means new radios for some agencies, such as the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, and new software for others.

"I compare our current radio system to a piece of Swiss cheese: there are areas of Pierce County that are 'holes' where we cannot send or receive radio transmissions," Sheriff Paul Pastor said. "This proposal not only complies with the federal mandate, but it also eliminates the patchwork of radio systems around Pierce County that delays direct contact among first responders."

The proposal also would replace three outdated dispatch centers - the Law Enforcement Support Agency and the two facilities operated by Tacoma Fire and West Pierce Fire and Rescue - with two new facilities (one each for police and fire).

"Our fire dispatch centers, which serve 99 percent of Pierce County, operate in buildings that were constructed in the 1920s and 1940s and cannot handle today's technological needs," said Ken Sharp, chief of West Pierce Fire and Rescue. "South Sound 911 will enable us to improve response times by reducing call transfers, accommodate increasing call volumes as the population grows, and accept and distribute text messages, photo and video from witnesses."

South Sound 911 would be funded by the existing Enhanced 911 tax (20 cents per line), an increase of 1/10 of 1 percent in the sales tax (1 penny on a $10 purchase) and agency fees and grants. The money would be bonded to pay for radios and two dispatch facilities, as well as contribute to the operating budget.

The following entities have signed the interlocal agreement that would set up governance of the new agency: Pierce County Executive's Office, Pierce County Sheriff's Department, Tacoma Police Department, Tacoma Fire Department, Lakewood Police Department and West Pierce Fire and Rescue. Including the communities that contract for services with those agencies, South Sound 911 directly affects 99 percent of commissioned fire fighters and 83.5 percent of commissioned law enforcement officers in Pierce County. Other agencies are invited to join at any time and increase the economies of scale.


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