911 dispatch system needs to be more efficient, report says

Broward County’s regional 911 dispatch system doesn’t need more money because it can be more efficient, a consultant found in a report released Thursday.

The report was the second phase in an assessment of the regional system that has been under scrutiny for complaints and mistakes after it launched in October 2014. The county hired Missouri-based consulting firm Fitch & Associates to do an in“In depth examination of the system.

“We’ve got some things to improve upon and that’s why the county engaged with the consultant,” said Brett Bayag, director of the county’s Office of Regional Communication and Technology. He said some changes are already underway.

A Fitch report released in August said that, while the system needed to improve, it was not bad compared to other large urban 911 systems.

The new report lists detailed recommendations, including:

Better linking and use of available technology; Reducing radio traffic; Budgeting for two new 911 facilities to build in the future.

Many of the 21 recommendations will require “significant organizational and cultural change,” the report said.

While recommending more dispatcher training and other resource improvements, costs can be balanced by changes to the system that can make it more efficient, the report said.

total, the current funding of the system is sufficient,” it said. “There should be no need for further overall funding.”

The system has a $41,372,150 budget for the current fiscal year, according to the report. About $48.7 million more is allocated to replace the radio system for dispatchers to communicate with public safety personnel.

The Broward Sheriff ’s Office, which runs the regional system, has requested more

money to hire more staff. The previous report said the system, in some areas, is overstaffed.

A department spokeswoman said Thursday the sheriff was unavailable to comment.

A new computer-aided dispatch system is planned to launch in 2017. The radio system is expected to be replaced in 2018.

Past system complaints have included cell phone callers transferred between centers, unanswered calls due to technology issues and first responders sent to incorrect addresses.

County Administrator Bertha Henry in a letter to commissioners and staff Thursday said that the recommendations in the report would be “evaluated for appropriate and timely action.”