Emergency Communication Services and Facilities

Contents

• Emergency Communications
• Interlocal Agreements Creating Regional Communications Centers
• Interlocal Contracts for Emergency Communications Services
• Other Interlocal Contracts for Dispatch Services
• Regional Radio Communications Facilities
• Misuse of 911 System
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Regional Emergency Communication Centers Created Under Ch. 39.34 RCW, MRSC List

Emergency Communications

• Washington State Emergency Notification Systems
  • Telecommunications -  Washington State Emergency Management Division
  • Emergency Medical Services Communications -  Washington State Department of Health
  • Regional Public Information Network (RPIN) - Central Puget Sound Area
  • Washington State ARES/RACES
• 911 Systems
  • State Enhanced 911 System -  Division of Emergency Management
  • National Emergency Number Association
• Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)
  • National Communications System Priority and Other Services  (GETS, TSP, WPS)
  • Communication: When All Wired and Wireless Telephone Circuits Are Busy: Priority Telecommunication Service for First Responders, by Harlin R. McEwen, Chief of Police (Retired), Ithaca, New York, and Chairman, IACP Communications and Technology Committee , The Police Chief, March 2006
  • Washington Emergency Management  Telecommunications Service Priority Plan ( 170 KB)
• Wireless Communications
  • Public Safety Home - Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
  • 800 MHz Band Reconfiguration -  Federal Communications Commission
  • Communications Special Focus, Police Chief, April 2005 (6 articles)
    
• Interoperability Issues
  • CommTech -  The National Institute of Justice's CommTech Program has a mission to assist State and local law enforcement agencies to effectively and efficiently communicate with one another across agency and jurisdictional boundaries
    • Why Can't We Talk? Working Together to Bridge the Communications Gap To Save Lives: A Guide for Local Officials ( 1.56 MB), National  Task Force on Interoperability, 2-03 
• Other Resources
  • Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) -  National Association for Amateur Radio ARRL
  • CALEA Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program
  • Counties Seek Versatile Emergency Alert Systems, County News, September 15, 2003
  • Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages, American Red Cross, produced by the National Disaster Education Coalition, Washington, DC, 2004.
  • 9-1-1 Center Operations: Challenges and Opportunities, I.Q. Report, International City/County Management Association, June 2004. ICMA Catalog Description  Also MRSC Library Loan

Interlocal Agreements Creating Regional Communications Centers

• Regional Emergency Communication Centers Created Under Ch. 39.34 RCW - MRSC List

Sample Agreements

• Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA)  (911 PSAP and dispatch services)
  • Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency Interlocal Agreement, 1-01. Document available as MRSC Library Loan
• Cowlitz County Communications (911 PSAP and dispatch services)
  • Interlocal Agreement for Operation, Maintenance and Participation in Cowlitz County Communications Center
• Grant County Multi Agency Communications Center
  • Interlocal Agreement for the Operation of the Central Communications E911 Center, 1995 The Multi Agency Communications Center was formed through an interlocal agreement in January of 1995. Grant County; the cities of Soap Lake, Mattawa, Warden, Ephrata, Moses Lake, Electric City, Royal City, Grand Coulee, Coulee City and Quincy; Grant County Fire Protection District Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15; Grant County Coroner's Office, Grant County Fire Marshall, Grant County Emergency Services, Grant County Sheriffs Department, Grant County Mental Health, Grant County Public Hospital District No. 1, and Grant County Public Hospital District No. 2, together formed the consolidated public safety 9-1-1 dispatch center for law, fire and emergency medical aid. MRSC Library Loan
• JeffCom - Jefferson County (Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Jefferson County, Washington
  • JeffCom's Governing Agreement ( 113 KB) - Interlocal agreement regarding emergency dispatching, communications and other services
• Kittcom Communications Center -  Kittitas County (911 PSAP and dispatch)
  • Kittcom Interlocal Agreement
• Pierce County Law Enforcement Support Agency (Tacoma and Pierce County, 911 PSAP Pierce County and Dupont, Eatonville. Edgewood, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Roy, Ruston, Steilacoom, University Place)
  • Pierce County Code, Chapter 2.68 Law Enforcement Support Agency ( 749 KB, at page 109 of document)
• Skagit 911 - Skagit Emergency Communications Center (SECOM)
  • Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for a County-Wide Public Safety Communications Center MRSC Library Loan
• Valley Communications Center (Serves South King County, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Tukwila)
  • Tukwila Ordinance No. 1912 - Approves formation of the Valley Communications Center Development Authority to equip the center. Passed 4-00
  • Federal Way Ordinance No. 00-369 ( 302 KB) -  Approves the Formation of the Valley Communications Center Development Authority, 4-00
  • Exhibit A ( 1.19 MB) - Kent Ordinance No. -- Approving Charter and Bylaws
  • Exhibit B ( 572 KB) - Charter of the Valley Communications Center Development Authority
• WHITCOM Communications Center (An entity composed of Whitman County, Pullman and Washington State University; provides services to Moscow, Idaho and Asotin County.)
  • Pullman Resolution No. R-18-04 ( 782 KB) - Authorizes an agreement between Pullman, Whitman County and Washington State University to create WHITCOM, an independent agency, to operate the Whitman County Enhanced 911 Emergency Communications and Dispatch Center. WHITCOM includes Whitman County and surrounding areas under jurisdiction of contract subscribers, including Moscow, Idaho and Asotin County, 3-04
  • Pullman Resolution No. R-19-04 ( 593 KB) -  Authorizes an agreement between Pullman, Whitman County, Washington State University, and Asotin County for WHITCOM to provide Emergency Communications and Dispatch Services to Asotin County for initial period of 5 years with a 5 year renewal. WHITCOM includes Whitman County and surrounding areas under jurisdiction of contract subscribers, including Moscow, Idaho and Asotin County, 3-04.
  • Pullman Resolution No. R-4-04 ( 391 KB) -  Authorizes an agreement between Pullman, Whitman County, Washington State University, and Moscow, Idaho for WHITCOM to provide E911 services and complete dispatch Services to Moscow, Idaho for initial period of 3 years with 2 one year extensions. WHITCOM includes Whitman County and surrounding areas under jurisdiction of contract subscribers, including Moscow, Idaho and Asotin County, 1-04.

Interlocal Contracts for Emergency Communication Services

• Bellevue 911 Communications Center - Note the East Side Public Safety Emergency Communications Agency contracts with the city of Bellevue to provide the communications services. Individual jurisdictions contract with Bellevue to receive the services.
• Kitsap County Central Communications Department (CENCOM)
• Peninsula Communications PenCom -  Port Angeles Police Department (911 PSAP)
• PENCOM Dispatch and Computer Records Service Agreement with Sequim, 8-97 MRSC Library Loan

Other Interlocal Contracts for Emergency Dispatch Agreements

• Yakima County and Wapato Law Enforcement Assistance Agreement - Communications/2000 - between Yakima County Sheriff's Office and the City of Wapato provides that the Sheriff shall provide telephone, radio communication, and access service for the City during hours in which the City has no law enforcement radio personnel on duty, dated 11-99

Regional Radio Communications Facilities

• Agreement between Benton County Emergency Management (BCEM) and the City of Kennewick - Provides that the BCEM will provide access to its 800 MHZ radio system, 6-00
• King County Regional 800 Mhz Trunked Radio System
  • King County Code,  Chapter 2.58 ( 1.61 MB) - Emergency Radio Communications System (Page 165 of PDF document)
  • King County Regional 800 Mhz Trunked Radio System
• Snohomish County Emergency Radio System (SERS)
• Interlocal Cooperation Agreement (agreement to develop system) Document available as MRSC Library Loan
• Interlocal Financing Agreement ( 52 KB) -  By and between Snohomish County and the City of Edmonds, Washington, 10-1-99 
• Snohomish County Ordinance No. 99-086 ( 76 KB) -  provides for the issuance and sale of limited tax general obligation bonds of the County in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $30,000,000

Misuse of 911 Call System

• Misuse and Abuse of 911  by Rana Sampson, Problem-Specific Guide Series No. 19, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice, 2002  - Posted on  Center for Problem Oriented Policing
• Edmonds Municipal Code Ch. 5.21 - Misuse of the 911 or Emergency Call System
• Okanogan County Code Ch. 9.12 - Abuse of 911 System

Return to Emergency Management Communications
Return to Law Enforcement Services
Return to Fire Interlocal Cooperation in Fire Services