Delta Police Department

“Delta dispatch to all units; this marks our first official broadcast from E-Comm. I’m pleased to announce our transition has been successfully completed.” Those words by veteran Delta Police Department (DPD) dispatcher Karen Irwin marked the official transition of DPD call-taking and dispatch services to E-Comm on March 1. The police agency integrated its dispatch into the emergency communication centre at 0726hrs.

“This is a significant advantage for the Delta Police Department. It allows us to better meet the community’s needs and expectations.”

Chief Constable Neil Dubord,
Delta Police Department

Following the cutover Delta Chief Constable Neil Dubord noted that one of the key benefits of moving to E-Comm is the communication centre’s ability to draw upon its large workforce of highly-skilled call-takers during major events.

“Through our partnership with E-Comm we now have the ability to immediately increase staffing resources when required during high call volume events, “ said Chief Dubord.  “This is a significant advantage for the Delta Police Department. It allows us to better meet the community’s needs and expectations. ”

The value of consolidated emergency communications was demonstrated a week following DPD’s transition to E-Comm, when a late-winter storm combined with a high tide caused localized flooding in the Boundary Bay and Beach Grove areas. Water levels were pushed to 5.5 metres as cross-trained call-takers at E-Comm were on deck to support their newest dispatch partners. These same resources will be available to Delta residents during any future major event.

The Delta Police Board approved transitioning services to E-Comm after a multi-year evaluation. As Delta Mayor Lois Jackson, chair of the Police Board explained, the decision was made to ensure residents and the police department continued to have the best and most efficient service possible.

“We are longtime partners of E-Comm as all of Delta’s first responders use the organization’s radio system and E-Comm has also been dispatching for Delta Fire and Emergency Services for more than ten years,” said Mayor Jackson. “I am pleased with our new police dispatch partnership and am confident in E-Comm’s ability to provide a level of service that supports Delta’s ‘no call too small’ approach.”

DPD is the 16th police department to join E-Comm; the fourth in the last four years. Port Moody Police Department moved its dispatch to E-Comm on May 10, furthering E-Comm’s vision of expanding its services to more communities for the benefit of public safety.

“Our team of experienced staff, our technology and our purpose-built facility will help the public and police officers in Delta,” added E-Comm President and CEO David Guscott. “We’re proud to be their partners in public safety.”