Bridgeport Emergency Services Council and City Manager Kim Haws have endorsed the proposed purchase of a NOMAD mobile command unit. That proposal will be presented to City Council at the May 28 meeting.
“(Bridgeport Police Chief) John (Walker) has been a proponent of this for a long time now,” Haws said. “We’ve gone through various different options and have done a lot of research. This particular vehicle is not as massive as some of the others have been – better accommodating our narrower streets and community size, yet still meeting our needs.”
The mobile command unit has a $234,000 price tag, but that cost would be substantially reduced. Coming right off the top is a $34,000 grant received from the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and $25,000 already committed by Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department.
“Also by paying cash, we would get a huge break,” Haws said. “We can ultimately get the cost whittled down to between $160,000 and $170,000.”
The mobile command unit is made by NOMAD and has lots of bells and whistles.
“It’s loaded with cubicles, satellite, monitors and telescopic cameras,” Pysz said.
Earlier today, members of Bridgeport Emergency Services Council, city staff and officials were able to see a vehicle which is very similar to the one which may be purchased.
The mobile command vehicle demoed at Bridgeport Municipal Building was built for Monongalia County.
Walker and Deputy Police Chief Randy Hartley were impressed with the vehicle and its abilities.
Nomad President/CEO Will Schmautz’s explained that the unit was designed to get decision makers as close to the action as possible.
The mobile unit was designed to get decision makers on site and provide them with timely, important information. The more efficiently the information is received, the better the decision making process and therefore the action taken, he said.
“This unit is equipped with camera systems with situational awareness so you can see what’s going on around the unit,” Schmautz said. “It can also bring in video data from squad cars, cell phones and iPads, basically assimilating all voice traffic that’s going on.”
The mobile command vehicle is equipped with a radio center, providing two-way communication with police and fire applications and allowing cellular communication when towers go down.
Newly-sworn in Bridgeport Fire Chief Bob Seccuro was able to provide significant input with regard to the vehicle Bridgeport EMS Council is recommending.
“Bob has had experience with purchasing a similar vehicle in Florida and he has made some recommendations on a few things we can do without – without jeopardizing benefit, but keeping cost down,” Haws said. “It will be fully capable of doing anything we need it to do.”
As the $34,000 WVDHSEM grant has to be spent by Aug. 31, the EMS Council is moving quickly on the matter, Haws said.
“So we have to get moving on it and utilize those dollars,” he said. “Council will have to make a decision whether to support it or not. With the price and the efforts we’ve made to further whittle down that cost, I think Council will be in a position to look at it fairly favorably.”
EMS Council Member John Wilson, who is also a member of Bridgeport City Council, pointed out that the mobile command vehicle would not only be utilized by the police and fire departments, but in essence, the entire city.
Haws confirmed.
“When an emergency happens, all departments are involved,” he said. “My expectation is that this vehicle would be utilized in a number of different ways.”
The new unit would be housed at the Bridgeport Substation. If the matter is approved, the unit could be built to specifications and received within six months.
Why does a city of approx. 8,400 need a NOMAD command center?
Maybe the larger cities in W.Va with high crime rates have a NOMAD Command Center.
I believe the crime rate in Bridgeport is one of the lowest in W.Va.
How many times in recent years would this command center been utilized in city emergencies in Bridgeport as well as Harrison County.
The dollars could be used to give good pay raises to our fine police force, also raises to our fire dept and other city employees.
I know our city leaders will study the pros and cons and will spend the grant money and the city dollars in the best way possible.
Posted by hugh gainer May. 17, 2014 at 2:13 PM EST
Why does a city of approx. 8,400 need a NOMAD command center? Maybe the larger cities in W.Va with high crime rates have a NOMAD Command Center. I believe the crime rate in Bridgeport is one of the lowest in W.Va. How many times in recent years would this command center been utilized in city emergencies in Bridgeport as well as Harrison County. The dollars could be used to give good pay raises to our fine police force, also raises to our fire dept and other city employees. I know our city leaders will study the pros and cons and will spend the grant money and the city dollars in the best way possible.
Posted by hugh gainer
May. 17, 2014 at 2:13 PM EST
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