More than 100 first responders and elected officials answered the call Friday morning to tour Lake County’s new consolidated E-911 dispatch center during an open house celebrating the long-awaited center’s completion.
Director Brian Hitchcock, Deputy Director Jack Allendorf and members of the administrative staff led tours and answered questions about system capabilities and compatibilities.
Hitchcock said the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Tours were scheduled to be open to the public Friday afternoon.
“People like it,” Hitchcock said. “To me it’s nothing new. But to walk in as an outsider, I can see how it would be impressive.”
Hitchcock said he is ironing out final details with vendors AT&T and Motorola Solutions regarding when the system will be ready to bring in the various departments. He said the last announced date of Sept. 29 is in a holding pattern until the two coordinate. Another short delay until early October is possible, he said.
“Right now we are waiting,” he said.
Construction of the center began in earnest 21/2 years ago after years of procrastination and attempts by member units to get the State Legislature to overturn the legislation requiring consolidation of all of the county’s public safety answering points into no more than two by Dec. 31, 2014.
Schererville and Cedar Lake continue to fight the consolidation effort, opting to be a two-unit consolidation surrounded by the rest of the county.
Tommy Westbury, a captain with the Merrillville Fire Department, was touring the Crown Point facility with fellow fire department members Friday.
“It’s going to be a huge help,” Westbury said of the consolidation. He cited an example given by Allendorf during the tour regarding the Luke Oil gas station at the corner of Main Street and 93rd Avenue. The gas station is in Merrillville but any calls from the site are routinely routed to Crown Point. Having all the units under one roof will make that communication more efficient.
“Instead of transferring everything, it will be right there,” he said.
Griffith first responders and officials were equally pleased.
“It is very impressive,” said Gary Sutton, a Griffith Safety Board member. “I’m very impressed not only with the technology but the training that it appears has taken place and the things that have been put in place to enhance the safety of our city.”
Griffith Detective Jake Schoon said the new center has tremendously increased the department’s ability to communicate with other agencies. Currently, Griffith and its East Chicago, Hammond and Gary neighbors are all on different radio frequencies. Once all are brought into the center, responders will be able to hear what is going on in other communities, officials said.
Griffith Councilwoman Patricia Schaadt, R-4th, said she was pleased with the results and with Griffith’s willingness to get on board early with the consolidation and be an active part of the E-911 commission.
She said she is concerned and disappointed Cedar Lake and Schererville have chosen to not participate, especially because Griffith shares a border with Schererville.
“I think it will hamper communications. It could cause problems. It could cost lives,” Schaadt said.
Lake County Board of Commissioners President Roosevelt Allen Jr., D-Gary, who is also the chairman of the Lake County Public Safety Communications Commission, said it was difficult to get the project underway but the finished project was worth the effort.
“I’m very happy about the progress to this point in the face of all the hurdles we have had with some of the units of government,” Allen said.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
