SNOPAC 9-1-1
Posted by Gary O'Rielly
on Oct 09, 2012
Our guests on October 5, 2013 were Kurt Mills, Executive Director of SNOPAC 9-1-1 and Crystal Ayco, Operations Coordinator at SNOPAC 9-1-1. SNOPAC 9-1-1 serves 39 Police and Fire jurisdictions within Snohomish County.
Kurt Mills started his public safety career in Scottsdale, Arizona after serving in the United States Coast Guard with duty stations in La Push, Washington and Kodiak, Alaska. His career has been in 9-1-1 as a dispatcher and supervisor prior to his current position as well as a firefighter and EMT specialist. Kurt earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Phoenix. In 1999 Kurt took the position as the Communications Manager for Rural/Metro AMBULANCE Dispatch Center for Puget Sound. Prior to joining SNOPAC 9-1-1 in 2010 he worked in the private sector for a technology firm that focused on public safety and a marketing communications group.
Crystal Ayco is the Operations Coordinator at SNOPAC 9-1-1. Crystal plays a key role in the management of center staff. This includes the day to day operational matters and also supports the professional development and training of the center staff. Crystal works closely with the SNOPAC user agencies to ensure adequate support for their mission. In 2000 Crystal started her career in public safety at SNOPAC 9-1-1 as a call taker.Throughout her career, Crystal has served as a 9-1-1 call taker, dispatcher, supervisor and training instructor. Crystal developed a "Verbal JUDO" training system for 9-1-1 which teaches personnel to use different verbal techniques especially with callers under great duress. Inspired by her fahters' police work, Crystal sought a career in public safety that would allow her to help others.
Snohomish County has a population of 715,470 citizens and represents 2087 square miles. There are 57 public agencies served by SNOPAC 9-1-1 and have logged over 633K dispatched calls with 90% for police and 10% for fire. E9-1-1 enhanced system provides ANI --automated number information-which routes calls to the appropriate PSAP. ANI sees the phone number of the caller. ALI--automated location identifier-sees wireless but the locations can be much broader than landlines which pinpoint the exact location. All callers to 9-1-1 are encouraged to use a landline because of the accuracy of the location. Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) is relatively new. There is a wireless data initiative underway and a Public Safety broadband network is underway but will take years to implement.
Another example of a great program on our local community and the support from agencies like SNOPAC 9-1-1.
Crystal Ayco is the Operations Coordinator at SNOPAC 9-1-1. Crystal plays a key role in the management of center staff. This includes the day to day operational matters and also supports the professional development and training of the center staff. Crystal works closely with the SNOPAC user agencies to ensure adequate support for their mission. In 2000 Crystal started her career in public safety at SNOPAC 9-1-1 as a call taker.Throughout her career, Crystal has served as a 9-1-1 call taker, dispatcher, supervisor and training instructor. Crystal developed a "Verbal JUDO" training system for 9-1-1 which teaches personnel to use different verbal techniques especially with callers under great duress. Inspired by her fahters' police work, Crystal sought a career in public safety that would allow her to help others.
Snohomish County has a population of 715,470 citizens and represents 2087 square miles. There are 57 public agencies served by SNOPAC 9-1-1 and have logged over 633K dispatched calls with 90% for police and 10% for fire. E9-1-1 enhanced system provides ANI --automated number information-which routes calls to the appropriate PSAP. ANI sees the phone number of the caller. ALI--automated location identifier-sees wireless but the locations can be much broader than landlines which pinpoint the exact location. All callers to 9-1-1 are encouraged to use a landline because of the accuracy of the location. Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) is relatively new. There is a wireless data initiative underway and a Public Safety broadband network is underway but will take years to implement.
Another example of a great program on our local community and the support from agencies like SNOPAC 9-1-1.