10-23-07 MCP&PSG COFFEE & DISCUSSION 6:45AM MANCHESTER FAMILY INN

A popular guest always brings out  a crowd.  Attending this morning were Joe Blazevich, Paul Gilligan, Bud and Wanda Larsen, Rudy and Louise Renteria, Richard Dilworth, Joe Guariz, Bob & Mary Cathern Edwards, Ray Pardo, Peggy Warren, and Guests Aaron Burkhalter of the Port Independent and Ron and Sharon McAfee

of CENCOM. 

Two news releases from the offices of Sheriff Steve Boyer were reviewed.  They included information on the October 18th Central Kitsap man who was assaulted in an apparent pre-planned robbery with one woman and two men involved in the assault.   The other incident was related to a suspect wanted for assault, eluding and theft who is now sitting in jail.

Ron McAfee, Director of CENCOM provided us with a detailed map of the locations for CENCOM emergency towers at Teal Lake, Port Gamble, Indianola, Poulsbo, Brownsville, Seabeck,  East 30th, Gold Mountain, New CENCOM, Orchard Heights and View Park.    After 24 years in the communications field Ron will retire next year.  He has been training his replacement from within his staff for a number of years and feels that individual is well qualified to step in to the position.    Those who Ron works under include 13 bosses consisting of County Commissioners, Mayors, Port Orchard City Council, Fire Commissioners, etc.

The state of the art CENCOM headquarters is a facility that everyone interested in safety and/or emergency's should visit the facility at 911 Carver St, Bremerton.  You can call Ron's office at (360) 307-5800 to arrange a personal or group tour.  As you know, our group visited the site last year and it was a real eye opener on what CENCOM does for everyone.    The old CENCOM was located near the foot of the Manette Bridge for 17 years.  With the progress that has occurred in electronic and communications technology, a new facility was badly needed.

It takes 9 months of training in call receiving and 3 months in dispatch, to qualify to a communications position at CENCOM.   They work four 10 hour days 4 days a week and it is a high stress position.   It was noted that "mothers" are often the most qualified for the position.    There are no extra dispatchers replacements, when one leaves a new one must be trained with the previously mentioned time frame.    Employees maintain an important relationship between CENCOM, fire and patrol personnel, at all times.    CENCOM has their own Union Guild.    Security is foolproof at CENCOM, you cannot enter without being officially allowed to enter.  There are also two backup locations  for emergency's.    Dispatchers save lives many many times by simply being there on the line before fire or police can get there.

We reviewed the questions you are likely to be asked by a CENCOM operator, as well as learning that the 911 number seeks the path of least resistance, thus when a call goes out from Manchester, it will could likely be answered in Seattle.   The minute someone answers your call remember to respond with "I am calling from Kitsap County about a (robbery, accident, fire, etc.)"  the minute you say Manchester your call will be redirected to Kitsap immediately.   In addition, prior to making your call to 911, be prepared to answer the pertinent questions the dispatcher will ask you.  This will include your name, your address, your telephone number, landmarks, nature of the emergency, etc.    

CENCOM employs 68 employees in Kitsap County.  Goals they have set for themselves include a 90 second response time for calls to action on priority numbers 1 and 2, and meeting National Fire Protection Agency standards for call received, interrogation period, and dispatch.  It was interesting to learn that there is an annual 6% increase in calls, every year.  This is attributed to increases in population, as well as awareness of the program and how to use it.    What is the criteria for hiring CENCOM dispatchers?  Applicants must have stability, honesty, and have multi-tasked abilities.

There is a misconception that a Cell Phone call can be traced to actual location more quickly than land base 911 calls.  This is incorrect, when in fact the cell phone call can be traced to within 100 meters of the caller, but it is unable to pinpoint the caller within the 100 meter area.   For instance it might be able to locate a building and the building might be 2 to 20 stories high and they would not be able to pinpoint the actual call site.   Most calls received by CENCOM are cell phone calls.  Cell calls show a slightly rising level each month in relation to land based calls. 

Ron was asked if the employees are aware of locations that calls are received from, can they visualize the streets and the landmarks?  Ron said employees have been transported to various locations in a van borrowed from Kitsap transit to get an "eyes on" concept.  They learn where the intersections are, learn to see and describe landmarks, navigate to and from headquarters, etc.  There will then be tested .

CENCOM has worked towards 17 hot spots in the County.  Manchester's nearest high frequency spot could be Yukon Harbor fire station.  The "spots" will consist of high frequency communication towers than can transmit emergency information immediately.     The goal with the hot spots being to enable deputy's on duty to make their report from the equipment within their vehicle.    This program is still in the research period.   CENCOM operates under a special fund money agreement, The Sheriff's Office operates from the Kitsap County general fund. 

We discussed the Kitsap Emergency Management program that is housed within the CENCOM facility.  Phyllis Mann heads up this department and has been instrumental in getting the emergency word out to the public, in many ways.  Our own Mary Cathern Edwards is the volunteer for Manchester and is willing to go to

public meetings and relay emergency information, her training for this position was extensive and we hope to develop a program to go along with Neighborhood Watch in Manchester, next year.

Aaron Burkhalter of the Port Orchard Independent  joined us today to learn more about our crime prevention and public safety efforts, as well as what it is that brings so many folks to a morning coffee session at 6:45AM.    He will also be attending next weeks meeting (Tuesday ,Oct 30th) to talk with individual members of our group, so please plan to come so we can talk about our group interests long term and day to day.    Neighborhood Watch and Public Safety is a big part of what we do and where our interests lay.  As you know we are an open informal discussion group of Manchester residents that welcomes information, comments and opinions from all that attend.

PLEASE NOTE:  There will be no e-mail meeting reminder notice for next weeks meeting on "Tuesday, October 30th".  "Same time, same place."  Larsen's are running away to Belfair and other Peninsula State parks for a few days.  Will be back in time for the regular Tuesday morning meeting on the 30th.

Submitted:   Wanda Larsen