Local police and fire officials say the answer to the county’s trouble with the emergency dispatch system may lie in Clark County’s 911 center.
On Oct. 9, local police and fire chiefs asked the Cowlitz Comm Center’s governing board to study consolidating with the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency, known as CRESA. Officials here say CRESA is one of the best-rated 911 centers nationwide for its customer service for police, fire and other user agencies.
CRESA Director Dave Fuller said a feasibility study would evaluate whether consolidating would improve efficiency and dispatching.
“It’s got to be a win-win for both counties,” Cowlitz County 911 Director Deanna Wells said.
Officials say a large part of the push toward CRESA was because of the difficulty connecting to Kalama’s digital radio system to address agencies’ immediate needs and gaps in coverage.