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Sand Point DPS and Valdez Dispatch RoIP Demonstration Project
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SUBMITTED BY: Chief Bart Hinkle, Valdez Police Department
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
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Receive and file.
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SUMMARY STATEMENT:
In 2018, Chief Henning of the Sand Point Police Department contacted the Valdez Police Department in an effort to gauge whether VPD would be willing to partner with Sand Point and provide professional Dispatch services. Sand Point and Valdez PD enjoyed a working relationship in the past, as Valdez Dispatch previously served as Holder of the Records for Sand Point.
Initial conversations included such topics as work load, case management, Dispatch practices, and logistical IT issues. Satisfied that each of these components could be addressed, both parties verbalized an informal agreement to strive to bring the project to fruition. The burden was almost solely on Sand Point, as they were responsible for securing funding to upgrade their equipment and finance the project as well as working with a myriad of other agencies to accomplish the vast IT issues.
In 2019, Chief Henning was able to secure funding and begin the process of equipment purchase and installation. To date, the City of Valdez has dedicated some staff time to the project but has had no capital outlay or additional financial burden. In September of 2019, Chief Henning and Chief Hinkle executed a new Holder of the Records agreement, laying the groundwork for the system to be tested in the ensuing months.
Tests of the radio and paging systems have taken place over the last few months, with plans to further test the phone/911 system in the weeks and months to come. Once assured all functions are working properly, a trial phase - or phases- is planned, with each party evaluating whether the partnership is beneficial to their respective agencies and taxpaying base. At that point, a contract would be d...
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