Yuma Regional Communication System Recognized as "Most Effective Municipal/County Security Project"
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Government Security News announces City of Yuma as Winner during Homeland Security Awards competition.
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Government Security News Announces City of Yuma As Winner During Homeland Security Awards Competition
GSN: Government Security News announces City of Yuma as Winner during Homeland Security Awards competition City of Yuma representatives Laurie Neinast and Greg Wilkinson along with about 300 other government officials and industry executives packed the grand ballroom of a Manhattan hotel on Oct. 27, 2009 to witness GSN: Government Security News announce the names of the winners in 35 separate homeland security categories, in which the City of Yuma was announced as the winner in the category of Most Effective Municipal/County Security Program, Project or Agency Head. "The competition was stiff, and our panel of independent judges had to make some very tough choices, but we think we've identified the 'best of the best' for 2009," said Jacob Goodwin, the editor-in-chief of GSN: Government Security News, who oversaw the evaluation process.
Laurie Neinast, Director of Information Technology Services, was contacted in early October by Adrian Courtenay, managing director of World Business Media, LLC and owner of GSN: Government Security News stating that her nomination had been carefully reviewed and he was very pleased to announce that the City of Yuma was one of four strong field of finalists up for an award. The competing finalists included Nassau County (NY) Police Department, Broward County (FL) Sheriff’s Office and the Seattle Police Department.
The project nominated is the Yuma Regional Communication System (YRCS), which is a multi-jurisdiction interoperability communication system used by all Yuma County public safety agencies. Greg Wilkinson, who was also in attendance and works as the City’s Assistant ITS Director of Telecommunications, has been the Project Manager and Technical Advisor of the YRCS since implementation which began more than five years ago. “Greg has worked hand-in-hand with all Yuma County and State and Federal Public Safety leaders and everyone’s efforts and support has made this system what it is today”, said Laurie. Laurie also praised the Arizona Department of Homeland Security for supporting and backing this project.
The YRCS conforms to the federal P25 standards set for new radio equipment and connectivity extends the others in the state of Arizona, Southern California and the entire California/Mexico border. Since implementation YRCS users have reported a dramatic improvement in both coverage and day to day operations and due to its success the design and implementation strategy is being used as a model by other State of Arizona public safety agencies. Also because of its success, the City’s ITS Technical Team was voted by the Arizona’s Associations of Public Safety Officials and the National Emergency Number Association (APCO/NENA) as the Public Safety Technical Team of the year in 2008. Additionally, the State of Arizona Public Safety Communications Commission determined the state would implement a state-wide P25 700/800 MHz radio system as part of their inter-operability solution and the City has now expanded the YRCS to connect to the Phoenix Metro system.
All winners received inscribed trophies to honor their successes, and all finalists received attractive certificates attesting to their accomplishments. Also at the dinner, the U.S. Airport & Seaport Police gave the Fred V. Morrone Nine-Eleven Award to Frances Townsend, the former chairman of the White House Homeland Security Council.
