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Eaton County dispatch reports dispatch training, phased MCT replacement and new license-plate readers
Summary
County 911 director Kelly Cunningham told the committee Eaton County created a dedicated communications plan for recent retail-fraud operations, is prioritizing mobile computer terminal replacements for smaller agencies, and has access to 'flock' automatic license-plate-reader cameras in Eaton Rapids and Charlotte.
Kelly Cunningham, Eaton County 911 director, briefed the Public Safety Committee on Dec. 5 about dispatch operations, technology upgrades and staff training plans.
Cunningham said dispatch helped design a communications plan for the Nov. 26 retail-fraud operation that assigned a dedicated talk group and a dispatcher to manage units participating in the enforcement action. She described training requirements for telecommunicators—40-hour basic and 40-hour advanced courses plus continuing education—and said the county sometimes hosts classes to reduce lodging and travel costs.
On equipment, Cunningham said the county will phase in replacement of mobile computer terminals (MCTs) in patrol vehicles, starting with smaller police departments (Charlotte, Eaton Rapids, Bellevue, Olivet and others) and delaying full sheriff's-department replacements until county finances are clearer.
Cunningham described "flock" cameras—automatic license-plate readers—now accessible to county dispatch for stolen-vehicle and warrant hits. "These are automatic, license plate reader cameras that are set up in their city," she said, noting Eaton Rapids has six units planned (four currently active) and Charlotte has eight planned (four currently active). She said the cameras are paid for by local entities and that dispatch was given access to receive alerts and enter BOLOs into the CAD system.
What happens next: the county will continue phased MCT rollouts, maintain dispatcher training schedules and use LPR alerts for stolen cars, warrants and missing-person cases. Operational costs for the LPRs are borne by local jurisdictions, Cunningham said.
