Multi-Agency Mobile Command Center Unveiled
Firefighters and law enforcement personnel in St. Lucie County, Fla., will now be able to use a portable command post to coordinate a response to local emergencies. Funds for the $190,000 Bluebird bus came from the county sheriff’s office seizure and forfeiture trust fund and other local funds and grants.
The bus contains advanced monitoring and communications equipment, including a surveillance camera with infrared night vision. A special compartment in the vehicle can be used for planning with maps and TV images, while a second room functions as a dispatch center.
Fire Chief Jay Sizemore explained that commanders need a location free from distractions so that strategies can be properly worked out.
Officials noted the bus could be used for a variety of emergencies from wildfires to terrorist attacks, in addition to assisting large-scale investigations and searches for missing people.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Palm Beach Post (03/20/04) P. 1C; Vash, Will .
