Lake County Gazette

Over 40 local law enforcement and fire agencies have recently integrated state-of-the-art computer software to streamline their systems. This move is aimed at enhancing the way these agencies receive, manage information, and collaborate.

"The new CAD system is a critical part of the overall consolidation effort," stated Greg Formica, Fire Chief for the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District, chair of the Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) Consolidation Committee and Representative for CenCom E9-1-1, as per a Lake County press release. "It will help to save lives, protect property and increase the ability for agencies to work together and share information."

The majority of these agencies utilize computer-aided dispatch (CAD), a tool that allows 9-1-1 public safety telecommunicators to pinpoint the status and location of responders in the field. This technology facilitates efficient dispatch of the nearest first responders during emergencies. The new system will enable 9-1-1 public safety telecommunicators to more accurately determine where public calls from cell phones originate within Lake County, according to another Lake County press release.

As reported by a Lake County press release, collaboration was initiated via the Regional 9-1-1 Consolidation Consortium in 2018 with an aim to implement a cutting-edge "system of systems" due to its potential benefits and cost savings. The newly implemented computer software encapsulates this goal by integrating CAD records, jail management, and law enforcement reporting (including citations and accidents) into one shared multi-agency package.

The aforementioned "system of systems" forms part of the 9-1-1 consolidation initiatives which are designed to build a foundation of standardized technology. This foundation aims at improving emergency response, information sharing, coordination while simultaneously reducing long-term costs. The plan and contracts have been structured in such a way that additional partners can easily transition to these new systems for operational and fiscal benefits, as per a Lake County press release.