The Downriver Community Conference (DCC) in Southgate, Michigan, is an alliance of 20 municipalities and is the oldest interlocal consortium in the state of Michigan. When large, multijurisdictional emergencies occur, DCC enables resource sharing and mutual aid amongst members.

A DCC offshoot is Downriver Mutual Aid (DMA), an emergency communications district (ECD) that was formed to oversee 12 emergency communications centers (ECCs) in the region. Shared resources DMA provides include 911 call-handling and dispatching and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), among others.

An Unbiased, Professional Assessment Leading to Informed Decision-Making

A Roadmap to Drive Efficiency and Collaboration and Enhanced Technology

DMA decided that it needed to explore whether ECC consolidation would solve these challenges, and it sought the expertise of Mission Critical Partners.

“Initially, we didn’t want MCP to drive the data toward a preconceived outcome. We wanted an unbiased professional opinion so that we could make an informed decision — and that’s what MCP delivered,” said Bob Heck, DMA system administrator, Downriver Community Conference

MCP subject-matter experts (SMEs) started by conducting virtual tours of each ECC. They subsequently visited each center to assess the facility and its operations. This involved considerable observation time, numerous focus-group meetings, and stakeholder interviews. Finally, the SMEs reviewed a considerable amount of operational and financial data submitted by each ECC, which formed the basis of a detailed cost analysis.

The result of this activity was a 98-page assessment and recommendations report. The key recommendation from MCP was that DMA pursues a regional consolidation in three tiers:

Tier 1: voluntary participation in a physical consolidation of ECCs
Tier 2: participation in regionwide technology enhancements, particularly those related to shared systems
Tier 3: participation in regionwide consolidation of policies and operating procedures

The Roadmap to Success

Numerous benefits are anticipated by regionally consolidating the ECCs overseen by DMA, with the greatest benefits realized if all 12 centers participate. The benefits include:

Annual operational costs would be reduced by about $2.3 million if all 12 centers participated.
Managing one center compared to 12 would provide DMA with greater operational and cost efficiencies.
It also would help avoid staffing shortages, resulting in more efficient and effective scheduling.

Since partnering with MCP and when this case study was published, six ECCs had already committed to the consolidation and were reviewing an interlocal agreement. Meanwhile, two others are strongly considering it. The hope is that all eight centers will be consolidated by mid-2025. The fact that all of the centers are on the same CHE, RMS, and LMR platforms will ease the migration.

“Change of this magnitude is never easy, but having unbiased data from MCP keeps the onus on leadership. Telecommunicators do a great job of providing a vital service — if we provide them with the resources and the environment needed,” said Chief Watson of the Brownstown Police Department.

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Michigan Downriver Mutual Aid

MCP Helps Michigan Emergency Communications District Advance 911 Center Regional Consolidation

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An Unbiased, Professional Assessment Leading to Informed Decision-Making

A Roadmap to Drive Efficiency and Collaboration and Enhanced Technology

The Roadmap to Success

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