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Berrien County discusses mobile CAD rollout, radio encryption mandate and 911 system upgrades
Summary
County commissioners heard updates on a mobile computer-aided dispatch (CAD) rollout, a looming federal radio encryption mandate and planned redundancy work for the 911 center; no countywide funding decision was made.
Berrien County commissioners on Thursday heard progress reports on a planned mobile computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, ongoing work to harden 911 infrastructure and a federally driven radio-encryption deadline that officials say will carry a sizable price tag.
County staff described the mobile CAD as software that would allow local first responders to “see what the dispatchers are seeing,” giving field units real-time access to dispatch information on a digital display. The county has completed a law-enforcement–side memorandum of understanding (MOU) and is finalizing a separate MOU for fire agencies before sending materials to local chiefs for review.
The mobile CAD matters, administrators said, because it would extend dispatcher situational awareness across local policing and emergency medical units and could require initial county support to achieve broad local participation. County staff said the program could require an initial county buy-in and that local units might be asked to reimburse that up front cost over time.
“This would allow local first responders to see what the dispatchers are seeing,” county staff member Brian said. “Essentially, real time access to all first responders on essentially a digital display.”
Caitlin, a representative of the county 9-1-1 center, told commissioners the county is also pursuing broader preparedness work on active-violence and mass-casualty response, and that the 9-1-1 team and local public-safety disciplines are reviewing protocols and a draft response outline. She said the system upgrade discussions include radio encryption and other interoperability items.
Officials warned the radio-encryption requirement will be costly and on a hard deadline. One commissioner said federal guidance indicates agencies should be ready by 2026, and county staff and law-enforcement chiefs repeatedly described encryption as a mandatory, countywide technical change that will affect every agency’s radios and infrastructure.
Commissioners and staff discussed funding options. County staff said they have considered a range of approaches, including an initial county contribution to get the system running and then asking local units to reimburse the county over a fixed period. Staff also noted a possible state Public Safety Trust Fund as one potential source if the Legislature funds it.
County officials pointed to recent, smaller investments as precedents. One example cited: an earlier county contribution, roughly $90,000, to help fire agencies complete a transition to 800-megahertz radios. Staff described that example as evidence the county can pair technical rollout with targeted financial support when necessary.
No vote was taken Thursday to commit county funds for the CAD or for encryption. Staff said they will distribute the finalized MOUs to chiefs once the last reviews are completed and that the budget season is the appropriate window to discuss any county contribution.
Ending
County staff will circulate the fire-agency MOU after final review, and commissioners signaled they will revisit funding options during the upcoming budget process. The board did not adopt any binding funding commitment at the meeting.
