LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOLLING ANNOUNCES FIRST-IN-THE-COUNTRY REGIONAL 9-1-1 OPERATOR RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN

 

State Wireless E-911 Services Board Funded Initiative

Unites Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond

for Job Development, Regional Evolution and Industry Innovation

        

RICHMOND, VA, (April 24, 2008) — 9-1-1 emergency communications staffing is at a crisis level nationwide. Today, Lieutenant Governor William T. “Bill” Bolling announced a first-in-the country multi-jurisdiction cooperative campaign to staff 911 emergency communications centers in the Metropolitan Richmond area.

 

This initiative, which is a partnership between the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and the City of Richmond, was funded by a grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia Wireless E-911 Services Board. This is the first time, not only in the Commonwealth, but in the country that multiple jurisdictions have collaborated to recruit sufficient levels of personnel to staff the four emergency communications centers that are critical to the Greater Richmond Metropolitan area.

“9-1-1 is quite possibly the most essential service that government can provide,” said Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. “Through this initiative we hope to ensure that 9-1-1 operates at peak performance levels to ensure the safety of all Virginians. Recruiting individuals with the skills necessary to be qualified 9-1-1 operators is challenging, but I am encouraged that Hanover, Chesterfield, Henrico and Richmond have banded together to address this issue.  By awarding this first-in-the-nation grant, the Commonwealth has made sure that every region in the state and every state in the nation recognizes the importance of regional cooperation for addresses these emergency operations challenges.”

“This began when the Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond submitted a grant request to the Wireless E-911 Services Board,” said Commonwealth of Virginia Chief Information Officer Lem Stewart who chairs the Board. “The localities requested funding from the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Grant Program to fund a regional recruitment initiative for 9-1-1 communications officers. All four jurisdictions need additional personnel. Some have staff levels significantly below what is authorized and needed for their localities. Having an adequate number of communications officers answering emergency calls is essential to public health and safety. The goal is to entice a larger number of qualified applicants. This grant will help the Commonwealth of Virginia and these four localities better serve our citizens.”

The three-digit telephone number “9-1-1” was designated by Congress in 1967 as the “Universal Emergency Number” to reach emergency police, fire, animal control or medical services. The communications officers dispatch calls for help to local police and fire departments, facilitating the execution of emergency rescue and law enforcement operations in all four jurisdictions. Historically, the four jurisdictions have worked separately to communications officer positions — as does the rest of country. This is the first time that any region in the country has come together, pooling resources to build a unified regional system of recruitment.

 A multiple media and public relations recruitment campaign has been launched to run through June. The campaign, which has a new logo and tagline “On the Way,” consists of traditional media including television, radio and outdoor advertising as well as social and viral marketing that includes Facebook, MySpace and YouTube. Richmond based Excite Marketing Team was selected to develop and execute the campaign.

About the Wireless E-911 Services Board

The Wireless E-911 Services Board consists of 9-1-1 community experts and leaders from the public and private sectors. The Board’s interest include land line, wireless, enhanced 9-1-1 or E-911 and next generation 9-1-1 capabilities. The Wireless E-911 Services Board and state staff at the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) provide funding assistance, system design and end-user support. Virginia CIO Lem Stewart serves as the senior executive for all aspects of information technology, including serving as leader of VITA and the Wireless E-911 Services Board, for the Commonwealth.

The Emergency Communications Recruitment Initiative is a collaboration between Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and the City of Richmond. The localities requested funding from the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Grant Program for a regional recruitment initiative for 9-1-1 communications officers. The four jurisdictions were awarded $289,000.  Chesterfield serves as the grant administrator.

 

Date Published: 2008-04-30 06:18:25

Section: Top Headline,