GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Local law enforcement agencies remain frustrated with a faulty new dispatch system, while individuals tasked with fixing it are preaching that change is coming.
One way or another, a working option will be found.
That’s the message from Brown County Public Safety Communications after the new computer automated dispatch (CAD) system, implemented in December 2018, has had issues.
For those involved with the systems implementation, some minor hiccups were expected due to the sophistication of the program.
“This is the most complicated system we have and it’s also probably the most complicated system in the entire county,” says Cullen Peltier, Director of Brown County Public Safety Communications.
He says the nature of the errors have been twofold since the new technology was introduced.
“Some of it is user error, they’re not signing in to the system correctly,” says Peltier. “Some of it is equipment failures on the modems and in equipment in the vehicles.”
No matter where the error is stemming from, it’s agreed amongst both communication specialists and law enforcement that the current flaws are too severe to simply accept moving forward.
Some of the problems relate to GPS navigation failures, while other glitches prohibit the sending and receiving of standard alerts. Perhaps most concerning, some of these glitches could interfere, to an extent, officials ability to effectively respond to civilian 911 calls.
“We want the issues resolved as bad as everybody else does, we’re doing our very best to work with the company to do that,” he says. “If we can’t get those resolved, we have to make tough decisions.”
And those “tough decisions” could be multi-faceted.
Many, including a portion of law enforcement officials, simply think the best decision is to restore the previous system, which was initially replaced because it was deemed outdated.
Peltier thinks that’s far from a home run solution.
“When you go back to the old system, you’re running the risk of working off of old, outdated software and old, outdated equipment that could fail,” he says.
Some in law enforcement think the flawed old system would still be an upgrade from the current system, while some, including Peltier, don’t think that’s a switch that’s warranted right now.
He believes fixing the current system should remain their top priority and says they are in constant contact with the vendor attempting to fix the various glitches.
“I would like to see faster progress, but we’re seeing progress,” he explains.
In terms of a timeline, there are no specifics yet. But, Peltier would say that they are looking at fixing the system or making a decision to change within weeks, not months.
