WHEREAS, Arlington County's Emergency Communications Center (ECC) provides for the critical communication needs of both our Police and Fire Departments;

WHEREAS, the events of September 11th have served to underscore the importance of this skilled staff in protecting the community and ensuring that emergency services respond promptly and appropriately to emergency situations while under enormous pressure;

WHEREAS, the need for strong direction, consistency and continuity has never been greater;

WHEREAS, the Emergency Communications Center has just undergone a comprehensive Management Audit;

WHEREAS, emergency communications operations and technology are becoming an increasingly complex area of specialization;

AND WHEREAS, the need for a high level of understanding of the demands of both the Police Department and the Fire Department is critical to the successful use of resources and accumulation of statistics.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Arlington County Civic Federation that the Arlington County government is strongly urged to ensure that the Administrator of the ECC is a permanently assigned career employee, professionally trained in the areas of telecommunications and related technologies and experienced in ECC operations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Arlington County Civic Federation that the Police and Fire Departments are strongly encouraged to deploy from their ranks professionally trained police or firefighters to serve in ECC either on a rotational or permanent basis; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Arlington County Civic Federation strongly supports and encourages the County Government to take all steps necessary and prudent to fully staff the Emergency Communications Center.

This page was last revised on: December 27, 2003.