Recently our Communications Center, LOCOM, made a switch to a new Computer Aided Dispatch system (CAD). LOCOM joined with other Portland metropolitan centers looking to save money and integrate technology solutions to improve service, forming MAJCS ( Metro Area Joint Cad System) a group of four Public Safety Answering Points (911 centers): LOCOM, Columbia County 911, Washington County Consolidated Communications and Clackamas County Communications. The group made a conscious decision to use the same CAD system for emergency service calls in Columbia, Washington and Clackamas Counties. Working in conjunction with law and fire user agencies, across three counties, the MAJCS group worked on a collaborative approach to providing the fastest allocation of emergency resources to all priority police and fire calls.
Committees comprised of subject matter experts were formed to ensure adequate system functionality for communications officers (dispatchers), police and fire users, IT technical support and GIS table design and maintenance. During implementation the project submitted significantly less help tickets, documentation of issues that arise when the project goes live, than most technology projects. This achievement speaks to the dedication and skills these professionals brought to the project.
Because of the success of our project, the project manager submitted award nominations for the National Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Technology Leadership Award, Oregon APCO Commitment to Excellence Award and the Oregon APCO Technology Award. The MAJCS project received all submitted awards and the City of Lake Oswego had a number of award winners. All did an excellent job and our IT and GIS departments were the talk of the group! Below are the individuals and their respective awards.
Jeff Harmon–GIS-Engineering
- National APCO Technology Leadership Award
- Oregon APCO-NENA Commitment to Excellence Award
Derrick Berg—Information Technology
- National APCO Technology Leadership Award
- Oregon APCO Commitment to Excellence Award
- Oregon APCO Technology Award
Wes Pay—Information Technology
- National APCO Technology Leadership Award
- Oregon APCO Commitment to Excellence Award
- Oregon APCO Technology Award
April Benedetti—LOCOM
- National APCO Technology Leadership Award
- Oregon APCO Commitment to Excellence Award
LeAnne Senger—LOCOM
- National APCO Technology Leadership Award
- Oregon APCO Commitment to Excellence Award
Clayton Simon—Police Department
- National APCO Technology Leadership Award
- Oregon APCO Commitment to Excellence Award
Sue Scobert—LOCOM
- National APCO Technology Leadership Award
- Oregon APCO Commitment to Excellence Award
Leslie Taylor—Retired LOCOM Manager
- National APCO Technology Leadership Award
- Oregon APCO-NENA Commitment to Excellence Award