By Mark Miller
Komo News
EVERETT, Wash. -- Snohomish County police, firefighters, paramedics and emergency dispatchers are about to start using a powerful new tool that could help save lives.
The county’s 911 dispatch centers will transition to an advanced GPS-based system that will allow dispatchers to see and track where emergency vehicles are at all times.
Patrol cars, ambulances and fire trucks from more than 50 agencies will be outfitted with GPS tracking devices.
The multi-million dollar system is called New World and is already used by agencies across the country. Snohomish County officials say cost and the complexity of the system delayed its implementation here.
But managers at SNOPAC 911 in Everett are excited and eager to launch a system they’ve been working on for the past six years.
“This is going to make a difference, for our people in the dispatch center and for everybody out in the field,” said SNOPAC executive director Kurt Mills. “We’ll be able to be more efficient which will translate to improved response times.”
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