[April 18, 2007] Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) Search and Rescue Team Partners with National Interop for Regional Communications Tweet PORTLAND, Ore. --(Business Wire)-- National Interop, Inc. announced today that it has been engaged by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) to establish a transportable regional communications system to support MCSO, especially the Search and Rescue (SAR) team. The interoperable radio system will be deployed upon request to any large incident and all search and rescue missions within Region 1, a seven county area including: Clackamas, Clatsop, Clark, Hood River, Multnomah, Tillamook, and Washington Counties. This communications technology is made available with funding from the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). With this funding, the MCSO SAR team not only acquired the technology that communicates with all other proprietary radio systems owned by other agencies, but is also receiving the training and consulting services from National Interop to facilitate better coordinated search and rescue efforts. National Interop, comprised of a team of subject matter experts on important issues in public safety communications, and specifically on the need for interoperable communications systems, is working closely with the MCSO SAR team on training and implementation of the technology. "We expect that the MCSO SAR team will have one of the most effective response teams in the Northwest," commented David Billstrom, National Interop CEO. "The team will be ideally suited to coordinate efforts of first responders across multiple counties, resulting in an environment that is ultimately safer for all citizens." "I am proud of the foresight of our senior officers, and especially of our search and rescue unit," said Sheriff Bernie Giusto. The system exceeds the recommendations from the Governor's Search and Rescue Task Force Report, according to Billstrom. Specifically, the Tactical Bridge that allows for interoperable communications gives MCSO the infrastructure to form a unified command, as outlined in the National Incident Management System, among multiple jurisdictions. The interoperable communications system is designed to be set up in the field, at the scene or near the scene of an incident, including, but not limited to: the response to WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) attacks, SWAT incidents, river rescues, and natural disasters for the duration of the incident and is under the control of an incident commander, not the 911/PSAP(1) or EOC(2); thus it is a tactical deployment. About National Interop National Interop, Inc. serves public safety agencies by providing tactical and permanent communications systems. The company's staff includes current and former public safety first responders, VoIP and network experts, land mobile radio technicians, and system analysts and designers. The company offers consultation, construction and training services and creates communication systems that are flexible, economical, and scalable. National Interop, Inc. is privately held with offices in Seattle, Wash. and Portland, Ore. Additional information is available at www.nationalinterop.com. (1) "PSAP" Public Safety Answering Point (for incoming 911 calls). (2) "EOC" Emergency Operations Center [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]