OPSCAN

1. OPSCAN Olympic Public Safety Communications Alliance Network Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty & Patti Morris December 5, 2007

2. Why Can’t We Talk?

3. Deputy Wally Davis Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputy Wally Davis lost his life on August 5, 2000 while responding to a disturbance complaint. The dispatchers could not reach Davis on the radio. They responded nine minutes later. Deputy Davis had been shot.

4. OPSCAN History • After the death of Wally Davis, a committee was formed to improve communications operability. • The planning continued for the next 3 years when a Department of Homeland Security grant was made available for interoperability. • Clallam County was awarded 1 of 17 grants nationwide. • $5.8 million with a 25% partner match

5. Clallam County Terrain

6. What is OPSCAN? • The Olympic Public Safety Communications Alliance Network (OPSCAN) is a consortium of 43 local, state, federal, non-governmental, tribal, and transit agencies working together to address the communications interoperability needs on the Olympic Peninsula.

7. OPSCAN Phases • OPS-CAN consists of three phases— • Phase I—Implementation of a microwave backbone around the entire Olympic Peninsula, implementation of a network of interoperability gateways and solutions, and development of policies, procedures, and training to ensure proper functionality and operations • Phase II—Implementation of mobile data systems (not funded) • Phase III—Implementation of the long-range plan expanded and revised during Phase I (not funded)

9. What have we accomplished? • Provided a network for local, private, state, federal, and tribal agency use • Established a shared-maintenance and user fee structure – smallest to largest agency affordability • Considered the largest VoIP network in the U.S. • Homeland Security (letter to Gov. Gregoire) stated “OPSCAN has become recognized nationwide as the best example of a system providing interoperability in a rural jurisdiction”. • Award nominations, Webinar participation nationwide, regional recognition. • Ability to serve local agencies and provide a state OC3 network that leverages state resources and is a platform for other systems.

10. What You Must Consider • Determine What You Are Trying To Achieve Before You Begin Project • Improve Radio coverage • Day to Day Communication • Ability to Speak with Who You Want To Talk With • Emergency Communications

11. Interoperability Must Be User Driven • Gain Input from Users • Simple vs. Complex Systems • Consider Training Requirements • Future Replacement Costs • Select & Design System • Don’t Allow Vendors To Drive The Need

12. Governance • Governance and Operational responsibilities and use • Ownership • User costs • Maintenance responsibilities • Plan for expansion

13. Governance Structure

14. How To Achieve Interoperability? • Accommodate multiple jurisdictions and agencies • Be scalable • Minimize conflict • Centralize functions (administrative, operations) • Encourage decentralized participation • Identify a united vision and determine scope and focus around that vision • Identify legal, policy, administrative, functional, and technical requirements, as well as obstacles • Define project objectives, tasks, and timetables • Garner support from all decision makers

15. OPSCAN Establishing the Patch

16. Next Steps • Continue to work with other cities, counties, transit, hospitals, etc. to assist with their deployment of interoperability solutions at the local level • Add OPSCAN members/partners (More users – less cost)

17. “No man, woman, or child should lose his or her life because public safety officials cannot talk to one another.” Rick Murphy, Program Manager SAFECOM

18. Questions?