Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services and the county Sheriff’s Department announced that the county has begun full operational use of a multi-faceted dispatch and records management system to improve communication between emergency services departments and better serve the first responders responding to 911 calls for assistance.
The new Computer Aided Dispatch, or CAD, system was purchased through a $2 million grant secured by the County Office of Emergency Services.
The systems, developed by public safety software company CentralSquare Technologies, are the first in New York state to use CAD, as well as field-based reporting and a mobile app feature that allows first responders to receive real-time situational updates from a dispatch or command center, according to county officials. Additionally, the new state-of-the-art tool also maintains a records management system that allows responders to recall information related to a person or address they may be interacting with during an emergency response call.
Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Tollisen said the new CAD, Mobile/RMS system “is viewed as a welcomed change to public safety personnel throughout the County. We are confident this new system will provide a higher and more efficient level of service that our residents deserve and expect. I thank Sheriff Michael Zurlo for his efforts to bring this state-of-the-art system to Saratoga county.”
“I am proud to have worked collaboratively with our partners in Albany and Rensselaer counties, and of our team at the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Services, who worked diligently over the past several years with the goal of improving public safety in the county,” said Zurlo. “One major highlights of this project is the 911 call centers ability to process calls more efficiently and rapidly, essentially shaving critical seconds off the time it takes between when our 911 center receives a call for service to the dispatching of emergency personnel to the scene. Our deputies are now safer on patrol because of this new software.”
Northumberland Supervisor Bill Peck, chairman of the county Public Safety Committee, said “Saratoga County continues to be the fastest growing county in the State. As the county grows, we need to be prepared and utilize new technology. As our county continues to grow, it’s critical we provide all emergency services with necessary tools to respond to emergencies and protect the public. One of the major features of this new system is an integrated mapping, which directs first responders reliably to the correct call location and the quickest route to the location.”
Commissioner of the Office of Emergency Services Carl Zeilman said the new software “connects emergency responders on the road to the dispatch center, while giving them on-demand access to a records system to better prepare them as they respond to a call or emergency. This new tool will undoubtedly improve response time and better prepare first responders to answer calls for assistance.”
Steve Seoane, executive vice president and general manager of Public Safety at CentralSquare said, “Saratoga County is launching a new era in interoperable public safety communications. By connecting their full suite of CentralSquare’s public safety software with Albany and Rensselaer counties’ CentralSquare systems, Saratoga empowers first responders with shared visibility into mission-critical information that improves the safety of first responders and the communities they serve.”
SICG funding is provided to facilitate the development, consolidation and/or improved operation of public safety communications to support and enhance statewide interoperable communications for first responders.
The system also shares information with Albany and Rensselaer counties, but Saratoga is the first in the state to implement all facets of the software program, officials said.
