LTC 073-2018 Update on Public Safety Communications Division's AccomplishmentsMIAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# 073-2018
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members f the Cit /Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: February 12, 2018
SUBJECT: Update on Public Safety CommuCications Division's Accomplishments
The purpose of this LTC is to provide you with an update of the Public Safety Communications
Division's (PSCD) accomplishments since its transition from the Department of Emergency to the
Fire Department effective on October 01, 2017.
Below is a brief summary of some of the achievements that have been accomplished thus far:
• PSCD has been able to reduce the monthly overtime cost by 53.92% within four (4) months.
The below chart illustrates the number of hours worked, the overtime cost per hour, and the
actual overtime cost for each of the last four months.
MONTH
OVERTIME
HOURS WORKED
OVERTIME COST
PER HOUR
OVERTIME
COST
October, 2017
2,356.00
$35.60
$83,884.37
November, 2017
2,248.78
$37.53
$84,403.98
December, 2017
2,018.43
$32.73
$66,081.81
January, 2018
1,423.99
$27.14
$38,647.96
• Thirteen experienced and certified personnel have been hired and have been released from
training in at least one (1) function, (911 Call -Taker, Police/Fire Dispatcher, or FCIC/NCIC
Operator).
➢ As a result, the continuous need to force personnel to work has been reduced to
almost non -existing levels.
• The Division is now able to provide a back-up dispatcher for police or fire incidents
during some shifts.
• There were three (3) other trainees (Non -Certified, Non -Experienced) that were hired prior to
the transition of the Public Safety Communications Division to the Fire Department. These
trainees have been permanently assigned to the 911 Center and are now beginning to
complete their 911 Cali -Taker portion of their training.
> Two (2) of these three (3) trainees have already completed their 911 Call -Taker
training and have been assigned to train as a Police Dispatcher.
• PSCD interviewed six (6) additional dispatcher applicants towards the end of December,
2017 and submitted their names to the backgrounds unit.
• The Division is awaiting the result of the background investigations prior to hiring the
next group of personnel.
> The Division is in the process of conducting another round of interviews within two (2)
weeks to fill the rest of the vacant positions.
• PSCD began a Medical Quality Assurance program on December 18, 2017. This mandatory
program provides feedback and remediation training to all call -takers on a daily basis.
> As a result of this effort the compliance to protocol scores have significantly
increased within the inception of the program (six -weeks).
■ Moving forward, the Division is actively developing additional aspects of the
Medical Quality Assurance program and also working on acquiring the police
and fire protocol system. Also, this purchase will allow them to implement a
Quality Assurance program for those disciplines (police and fire).
> The Quality Assurance program for each discipline (Police, Medical, and Fire) is the
first step in achieving accreditation from the International Academy of Emergency
Dispatch.
• PSCD has developed a new 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator curriculum and are in the
process of submitting the application package to the Department of Health for approval.
> Upon approval the Division will begin the process of certifying 100% of its personnel
in compliance with state regulations.
• PSCD has assigned a new experienced full-time Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC).
• This person is now functional and has begun the process of reconciling the
fingerprint database (FALCON) for the police department.
• In cooperation with the Procurement Department, PSCD has resolved pending contractual
issues regarding critical infrastructure projects such as the upgrade of the 911 phone system
(Viper) and the P25 Radio System.
• In cooperation with the Procurement Department, PSCD has remediated multiple vendor and
contractual issues, and are in the process of bringing all of its contracts up to date.
• PSCD has corrected multiple radio system maintenance issues that have previously
compromised radio communications.
• PSCD has developed multiple policies and procedures in close coordination with police and
fire department staff. Some of these policies and procedures include:
> Radio System Failure Procedure
> Address and Phone Number Verification Policy
• Critical Incidents Notifications Procedure
• License Plate Reader Procedure
• PSCD has purchased training software (Target Solutions) and has begun the process of
implementing it.
➢ This system will give PSCD the capability of electronically keeping the certification
and training records of all of its employees.
➢ Also, it will allow the Division capability of issuing all training electronically
(paperless) instead of manually.
JM/VF