OWEN SOUND POLICE PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITIES FOR NG911

The Owen Sound Police Service is proud to announce partnership with several Communities for Next Generation 911 (NG911).

Beginning in 2019, the Owen Sound Police Service began trials for NG911 and were the first 911 answering point in Canada to transfer Next Generation 911 Incident Data while working with Sherbrooke 911 in Quebec. 

These trials concluded in 2021. Since then, the Owen Sound Police Service’s Emergency Communications Centre (OSECC) has developed a Hosted Call Handling Solution centralized in Owen Sound for handling future Fire and Police Next Generation 911 calls.

Certification to a fully live environment takes on average 600 tests per site for compliance.

In addition to its own communication Centre that covers a population of 370,000, this solution will be delivered to the following communications centres in Ontario:

-Brockville Fire Department

-Brockville Police Service

-Gananoque Police Service

-Hawkesbury Fire Department

-Smiths Falls Fire Department

-Smiths Falls Police Service

"Our staff and Service recognize the importance of innovation and leadership in public safety communications and the reliance of the public on these emerging technologies.  Future capabilities include real time video feeds and real time chat with smartphone users.  Our staff are currently onboarding both our communications centres located in Owen Sound and shortly, our partner agencies over the coming months” -Christopher Hill, Director of Information Technology

The service provided will increase the Owen Sound Emergency Communications Centre’s population coverage for Next Generation 911 to approximately 500,000 residents across 25,000 square kilometers situated across the province. 

Ultimately, over 60 fire halls and 9 police services are covered under the NG911 partnership across approximately 40 municipalities.

"These innovative solutions will not only enhance the performance of 911 services to the communities that we currently serve but also provides an opportunity for growth to further locations across the province. These opportunities leverage the infrastructure already in place and create cost savings not only for the taxpayers of Owen Sound but to all communities that sign on and take advantage of the economies of scale as the system expands. “ -Craig Ambrose, Chief of Police

For more information on NG911, please contact the Owen Sound Police Service at info@owensoundpolice.com