In a groundbreaking development for emergency response services, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division announced the successful “soft launch” of its Alternate Emergency Communications Center (AECC) located at the New City campus. The launch occurred at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in the county’s public safety and emergency preparedness efforts.
The AECC’s operational debut was spearheaded by the assignment of Radio Operators for the day tour (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM) who took on the responsibility of live 9-1-1 call processing and the dispatch of police, fire, and EMS units directly from the new facility. This move underscores the AECC’s capability to fully assume all critical functions traditionally managed by the main Emergency Communications Center (ECC) without any service interruption.
Featuring state-of-the-art technology, the AECC is equipped with redundant wired and wireless links to the main site, guaranteeing uninterrupted operation. The incorporation of Dynamic System Resilience (DSR) by Motorola Solutions further enhances the system, providing complete redundancy for the County’s Public Safety Radio Communications System. This ensures that even in the event of the main ECC going entirely offline, the AECC can seamlessly take over all essential functions for an extended period.
As part of the testing phase, the Division’s main ECC in Pomona was deliberately placed out of service for several hours, allowing the alternate site to fully support the county’s emergency operations. The test concluded without any significant issues, with responders indicating that operations proceeded as usual.
Chief Adam Feuer of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office lauded the achievement, stating, “This is a first for Rockland County. Our staff has done an amazing job ensuring complete and seamless redundancy for 9-1-1 and emergency dispatch services. I’m exceedingly proud of our Radio Operators for their adaptability to a new environment and operations with zero impact on the public and responders.”
Sheriff Louis Falco echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the peace of mind this development brings to the county. “Everyone in Rockland County – residents, workers, visitors – can rest easier knowing that the Sheriff’s Office is equipped to handle virtually any emergency. This new alternate center guarantees that, even in the worst-case scenario, our Radio Operators will always be there to answer the call and provide necessary assistance,” said Sheriff Falco.
