EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Socorro Independent School District’s Department of Police Services implemented a new 911 dispatch system, the school district announced on Thursday, June 12.
According to the news release by Socorro ISD, the new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system “ensures a quicker, more efficient response to emergencies, prioritizing the safety and well-being of students and staff.”
“The reason for upgrading the 911 system was to meet the requirements set forth by the State of Texas and to enhance the safety and security of our community,” Socorro ISD Police Chief George Johnson said. “A new feature of this system enables us to record all incoming and outgoing calls, as well as radio traffic, which is important for ensuring transparency.”
The new CAD system uses a software platform that receives calls, accurately records information, and dispatches units to respond to incidents, Socorro ISD said.
Socorro ISD said that responders equipped with mobile data terminals, radios, and cell phones can instantly receive messages and act swiftly and effectively.
Johnson also added that the CAD system is at a similar level of emergency response as other law enforcement agencies, including the El Paso Police Department and El Paso Fire Department.
According to Socorro ISD, the new dispatch system cost $135,000 and was paid for by a state grant.
The dispatch center receives about 50 calls daily, SISD Police Services dispatch supervisor Stacie De Santiago said.
“It makes it safer because we’re able to have better documentation of our calls and things that are being recorded. If we ever have to go back for our own benefit or for the public’s, we have that ability to do so now,” De Santiago said.
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