It had been two decades since the Latah County Sheriff’s office purchased new dispatch equipment. The stations used analog technology, which was essentially ancient, said Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch.
The Latah County Sheriff’s Department recently updated their call taking system and replaced old dispatch equipment with two new dispatch stations.
Mike Rosen, support service administrator for the Sheriff’s Department, said the old dispatch equipment was outdated and far less efficient than the new equipment. He said the old equipment was installed in the early 1990s.
“This is a serious improvement from what we used to have. It was outdated, and the citizens of the county deserve to have the best capabilities and equipment,” Rosen said. “We built this for the future.”
Rosen said the new equipment allows dispatchers to identify a caller’s position within 45 to 60 seconds of answering the call. He said the mapping technology often identifies a caller’s location more effectively than a person in a time of distress.
Rosen said when a person is in an emergency situation they can have a difficult time focusing, and can mix up basic information dispatchers need to notify the proper emergency services.
With the upgrade, the call taking system uses the Primary Service Address Point System, which automatically identifies a caller’s address, and other basic information given by their phone provider.
“We’re able to pull data … instead of having to sit there and keep asking, asking and delaying,” Rosen said.
Dispatch Supervisor Mike Gregory said he has seen decreased response times due to the digital mapping capabilities and PSAP system.
Rausch said even with the new equipment, response times vary with the amount of calls, their location and the number of deputies on call.
The Sheriff’s Office used an $187,000 Idaho Emergency Communications Commission grant to upgrade their call taking system, and used $118,000 in E 9-1-1 funds to purchase the equipment. E 9-1-1 funds come from an annual $1 tax on every citizen with a Latah County area code phone number, and are used to improve emergency services.
Rosen said people calling from a cell phone should step outside when making an emergency call to get the clearest signal, since the digital mapping system identifies callers through cell phone signals.
He said digital mapping helps dispatchers identify alternate traffic routes for fires and chemicals spills, and the technology will allow dispatchers to notify residents of an evacuation plan more effectively than the old system.
Rausch said the new equipment is also Next Generation compliant, which allows the public to send dispatchers videos, pictures and text messages about their emergency. However, he said the Next Generation technology will not be operational until Idaho fully upgrades the 9-1-1 system.
Rosen said dispatchers benefit from the upgrade because the stations are now ergonomically designed, which helps dispatchers stay alert throughout their 10-hour shifts.
“Now dispatchers that are more comfortable, they are going to be alert,” Rosen said. “There are less distractions for them.”
Rosen said there was a learning curve for dispatchers at first, but with four months of use, the new equipment is showing potential.
Rosen said the Sheriff’s Department also renovated and expanded the dispatch center to accommodate the new dispatch equipment, which also allows for a third dispatch station — if necessary in the future.
The renovation to the dispatch center cost $30,000 and was appropriated by the Latah County Board of Commissioners.
Ryan Tarinelli
can be reached at