MT. CLEMENS, Mich. (WWJ) -- Officials are taking the wraps off a brand new 9-1-1 dispatch training center in Macomb County, with the state-of-the-art facility becoming the first of its kind in the state.
The new facility at the Macomb County Emergency Management and Communications Technical Services Building, along Dunham Road in Mt. Clemens, will provide innovative training programs to police, fire and EMS dispatch workers through live scenarios and state-of-the-art technology.
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel says it will allow them to do what has never been done before when training dispatchers.
"Now we have stations in there where you can actually train, as if it's live, dispatchers who are new to coming into this job market here," Hackel told WWJ on Thursday. "They're actually going to get the training as if they're actually doing dispatching without having to sit on a console, not knowing what to do and how to do it."
The training center will service all dispatch centers across Macomb County, including the Macomb County Sheriff's Dispatch, the South East Regional Emergency Services Authority (SERESA) and dispatch centers in Warren, Shelby Township, Chesterfield Township, Richmond, Romeo, Center Line and Utica.
Hackel says the center also has an extensive camera system that will allow dispatchers to view what is going on at the scene and how to best respond to the situation.
"Our technology gives us the ability to see things, whether it's something happening out on the roads, they're able to see these scenarios because of the camera systems we have throughout the entire county," Hackel said.
"So with that being said, these dispatchers have to be able to understand how to handle emergency services, making sure they're talking people through CPR, any other first-aid type of situation, how to gather information, calm people down," he said.
The unveiling of the training center comes as the county is looking to hire more dispatchers. Those interested in the field can apply on the Macomb County website.
The county is partnering with the Public Service Institute at Macomb County Community College, allowing dispatchers enrolled in the college's Basic Emergency Telecommunicator Course to utilize the center as part of their program.
