County accomplishes important milestone in 9-1-1 Plan by assuming emergency dispatch responsibilities

CLEVELAND – County Executive Ed FitzGerald today announced that this week CECOMS officially assumed control of Olmsted Township’s emergency dispatch services.

Cuyahoga County in 2012 began pushing for regional cooperation and consolidations with the release of its 9-1-1 Consolidation Plan. Consistent with the vision of the County Executive’s Western Reserve Plan, to encourage shared services, a deliverable in that Plan called for Cuyahoga County Emergency Communications System (CECOMS) to provide call taking and dispatch services using a fee-for-service model.

“I once again commend Olmsted Township for being the first community to take advantage of this program in an effort to provide more efficient emergency services at a lower cost to taxpayers,” said County Executive FitzGerald. “Public Safety and specifically 9-1-1 services have been a priority for my administration, and I am proud of being able to accomplish this major milestone in our 9-1-1 Plan.”

Cuyahoga County Emergency Communications System (CECOMS) is the County’s 9-1-1 Center. Currently, CECOMS answers all wireless 9-1-1 calls in Cuyahoga County and transfers the call to the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). By taking over Olmstead Township’s emergency dispatch service, CECOMS will be responsible for the following:

• Answering all incoming 9-1-1, seven digit, wireless and landline calls, and dispatching the appropriate public safety agency.
• Hiring all call-takers and dispatchers.
• Training dispatchers, which include Public Safety Telecommunicate Training and Emergency Medical Dispatching.
• Inputting warrant information and missing persons information into the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS).

Cuyahoga County is providing full dispatch services to Olmstead Township at a low rate of $75,000 annually. The terms of the agreement begin on November 3, 2014; three years with an option for five additional years that either party can terminate within a minimum of 6 months’ notice.

“Olmsted Township was an early supporter of the 9-1-1 Consolidation Plan, as they immediately recognized not only the cost savings but the services improvements to be gained by partnering with the County,” added Norberto Colón, who serves as FitzGerald’s deputy chief of staff. “This is a big step for the County, as we are now in the dispatching industry, allowing us to be a viable option for other communities to consider consolidating with.”

As part of the Cuyahoga County 9-1-1 Consolidation Plan that FitzGerald announced in 2013, CECOMS will continue to reach out to other municipalities in an effort to become a regional dispatch center.