Central Communications Dispatchers are professionals who are certified in CPR and Emergency Medical Telecommunications. They are a critical element in the 911 link to Life Saving Services.

The Central Communications Division, under the command of Major Charles H. Caldwell, employs 28 full and part-time employees which includes one Lieutenant, 4 Sergeants, 18 Dispatchers, 3 part-time Dispatchers, and 3 civilian employees. They provide enhanced 911 telephone service and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) to assist in efficient dispatching.

In 2009 the Central Communications Division dispatched nearly 111,826 incidents. This was a decrease of nearly 1,700 incidents compared to the year 2008. Calls for service are received in a variety of ways. There were:

2009

·                                49,261 wireless 911 (cell phone calls) calls for service;
·                                16,797 (hard) or regular 911 telephone calls for services;
·                                26,783 non-911 calls for service.

2008

·                                48,808 wireless 911 (cell phone calls) calls for service;
·                                18,463 (hard) or regular 911 telephone calls for services;
·                                29,748 non-911 calls for service.

2007

·                                44,896 wireless 911 (cell phone calls) calls for service;
·                                19,808 (hard) or regular 911 telephone calls for services;
·                                35,603 non-911 calls for service.

Wireless technology and computer voice over I.P. has exploded over the past few years with twice as many 911 calls coming from this venue instead of the traditional phone lines. We know that this trend will continue and that more and more of our services will be provided through these forms of modern technology.

Central Communications is located at 8505 Garfield Road in Kirtland, Ohio, behind Lakeland Community College. Housed in a secure facility, built 13 feet underground, it is here that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division provides police and fire dispatching services for 19 Public Safety Agencies throughout Lake County.

These agencies include:

· Police service for: Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Kirtland Hills, Lake MetroParks, Madison Village, North Perry, Timberlake, Painesville, Perry Village and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

· Fire service for: Concord, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Leroy, Madison, Painesville City, Painesville Township, Perry Village, and Perry Township.

The Central Communications Division has been an integral part in helping to bring up the new computer system for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office which includes:

C                           Computer Aided Dispatch;
C                           A Records Management System; and,
C                           A new Jail Management System.

The Communications Division assisted with the implementation of a Records Management Report Writing System for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Division. We also assisted in outsourcing it to the Lake Metroparks and Perry Village Police. We completed the installation of the Records Management Package for the Kirtland Hills Police Department in 2009. In 2010 we are working with North Perry Village for the implementation of MDT’s and a Records Management Package, as well as with the local Fire departments to provide them with MDT service and Records Package to meet their needs.

·                                Central Communications is ADA compliant by providing T.D.D. telephone communications for the hearing and speech impaired. Dial 911, 354-4317 or 354- 3434 to be connected to our T.D.D. equipment;
·                                Provides County-wide team support for the Amber Alert Program (locating abducted children & missing adults)
·                                Central Communications handles Reverse 911 Service (ability to send messages from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office-Central Communications system to homes in any given geographic area of Lake County);
·                                Central Communications can activate the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in the event of tornadoes, or other types of natural disasters that the National Weather Service issues;
·                                Central Communications has direct contact with the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. In the event of a problem at the Nuclear Power Facility, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office - Central Communications Division will make initial notification for the activation of the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC);

·                                Central Communications provides after-hour dog file information for the safe return of a dog to its owner.
·                                In 2007, Central Communications became the centralized location for all Wireless 911 calls to be answered and then distributed to the appropriate agencies throughout the County;
·                                Central Communications also serves as the back-up Public Service Answering Point (PSAP) for the city of Mentor;
·                                Central Communications provides public education tours to groups throughout the    year; such as Lakeland Community College, Boy Scouts of America, Leadership Lake County, Western Reserve Junior Service League, and the Auburn Career Center;
·                                Central Communications also provides emergency contact services for such groups as the Game Warden, Dog Warden, Water Rescue teams, SWAT Teams, Humane Society, Lake County Hazmat Team and the Bomb Squad, just to name a few;
·                                Central Communications is the point of contact for Life Flight and Medivac Helicopter Services by coordinating radio communications between flight crews and ground emergency services.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office – Central Communications Division’s Dispatchers have a wealth of training, knowledge, and technical skills that they have acquired independently, or through in-service training by the Sheriff’s Office. They are all CPR certified and can administer medical pre-arrival instructions over the telephone, and have done so on numerous occasions.

Further, they are AED certified, as well as LEADS/CCH certified. It is a requirement that all of these specialists are able to perform all of the tasks mentioned above, as well as numerous other functions needed to meet the obligation of the Central Communications Center.

In addition to these skills, many of the employees have college educations and/or other specialized training such as hostage negotiations, NIMS classes (National Incident Management Based Systems which are critical in addressing national disaster standards as outlined by FEMA), and participate in FEMA drills which are conducted regularly in Lake County.

Central Communications develops its supervisory personnel by sending them to advanced supervisory schools such as PELC (The Police Executive Leadership College). PELC is a three week course presenting key executives leadership topics. It is based on the premise that leadership skills can be learned. It is an intensive learning experience focused on leadership skills vital to long term personal success and change in the organization -- both for the benefit of the community. Lt. Cynthia Baker, Sgt. Wendy Loomis, Sgt. Belinda Brooks, and Sgt. Dee Cichon have all completed PELC.

Lake County Sheriff's Office
                                 Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap

      CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS

Central Communications Dispatchers
are professionals who are certified in CPR and emergency medical telecommunications.

They are a critical element in the 9-1-1 link to
life saving services.

Lake County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS

Central Communications Dispatchers are professionals who are certified in CPR and emergency medical telecommunications. They are a critical element in the 9-1-1 link to life saving services.

Lake County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap

CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS

Central Communications Dispatchers
are professionals who are certified in CPR and emergency medical telecommunications.

They are a critical element in the 9-1-1 link to
life saving services.