ANOKA, Minn. – (Nov. 21, 2013) – It has been 30 years since the installation of Anoka County’s computer aided dispatch system. This system is responsible for the dispatch of law enforcement agencies all throughout the county and now after 30 years of operation it will be getting a long awaited overhaul. “What makes it very unique throughout the country is that we will also be sharing with fire protection professionals as well as emergency management, the jail and the ambulance services,” Palumbo said.
Palumbo adds that while many citizens believe that police and fire already share data that is simply not the case in Anoka County or anywhere nationwide. This new system will allow for the easy transference of information between all public safety agencies which will in turn provide better information to the police officers and firefighters before they ever even arrive on scene.
“If the police are going to a bank robbery, currently they do not have access to the building plans that the fire department has. So while they are in route to respond to a bank robbing, they’ll be able to know the interior of the bank through the fire department,” Palumbo said.
He also notes that the fire department would be able to use this effectively as well. “The fire departments for example, if they have to go out to respond to a fire or go out and respond to a rescue situation, they may not know when they walk into that house that there’s previously been a domestic assault there, or there are indications that it is a drug house, or something like that which could further endanger fire fighters,” Palumbo said.
This system will cost approximately $8 million; it is being funded by county property taxes and should be operational in 18 to 24 months. Replacing the 30 year old system will be the first priority and then updating the fire and jail systems will follow.
Palumbo thinks once completed, this new system will make Anoka County elite in the public safety communications field. “I believe it will set a very high standard,” he said. “As far as we know in talking to our vendors, there is no system like this through out the United States.”
The new system will connect Anoka County’s 11 law enforcement agencies, 15 fire departments, 21 municipalities, the county jail, and local ambulances services.
