SARASOTA COUNTY – The Sarasota County Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC) is one of few agencies across the nation implementing new technology aimed at reducing the time it takes to process an emergency call. The PSCC is also in the beginning phases of a new computer-aided dispatch system, the purchase of which was approved by the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners during their April 25 meeting. Together, these upgrades in technology help someone experiencing an emergency get help faster and provide the first responders more accurate and timely information for responding to the emergency. On Nov. 2, 2022, Sarasota County’s PSCC upgraded their hardwired call processing equipment (CPE) and mobile emergency service internet (ESInet). Sarasota County’s PSCC became the only public safety answering point to implement both services at the same time and third in the U.S. to join a national network offering location-based routing. The upgraded CPE uses new location-based routing, which delivers the call and the caller’s location simultaneously to the 911 Call Center – making sure the call goes to the correct agency the first time. Sarasota County PSCC is one of the few agencies in the country to use location-based routing. The technology will decrease the time spent and the number of calls needing to be transferred between Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. This can happen when a caller does not know their location or a call bounces off a tower in a neighboring jurisdiction, routing it to the incorrect answering point for 911 calls. “The use of this new technology will help save precious time in an emergency and highlights Sarasota County as a leader in response and service to our community,” said Sarasota County Administrator Jonathan Lewis. Included in this upgrade is an internet-based remote emergency call processing system. This utilizes laptops which, when paired with the remote radio system, will allow Sarasota County to receive and dispatch emergency calls anywhere there is internet connectivity. These upgrades ensure that should there be inclement weather, there is a way to receive 911 calls and dispatch responders from an off-site or remote location, ensuring continuity of service. It can also automatically reroute calls based on Sarasota County’s operational needs and requirements. PSCC staff will work diligently to implement the newly purchased computer-aided dispatch system over the next year. “We appreciate the county’s continued support in providing these enhancements in technology for the 911 Call Center that will improve the services we offer the citizens of Sarasota County,” said Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman. “We are exceptionally grateful for our partnership with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, who staff the 911 Call Center and utilized this new technology daily to help our local agencies answer the call for help,” said Sarasota County Emergency Services Director Rich Collins. – – – About Sarasota County Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC): In addition to being the primary answering point for all 911 calls for Sarasota County, the center provides full communication services for 11 area emergency response agencies including law enforcement and fire rescue. The PSCC is accredited by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. since November 2022. It is also reaccredited under the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. |