Lake County’s consolidated 911 dispatch center now operating in Libertyville

LakeComm, Lake County’s new 911 emergency communications center, is officially up and running at the new Regional Operations and Communications Facility in Libertyville.

In the last two weeks, seven 911 dispatch centers across the county closed and consolidated into LakeComm. The center began operating on Oct. 28 and finished consolidating the seven dispatch centers Thursday morning, Executive Director Jason Kern said.

In total, 30 different police and fire departments were transitioned into the new LakeComm system. It’s the result of more than a decade of planning and design work, funding and implementation and reflects the efforts of local public safety leaders, the Lake County Board, and local, state and federal officials “to turn this vision into reality,” according to a news release.

Kern said staffing shortages at 911 call centers across the country are an emerging problem. With LakeComm, Lake County hopes to address that issue.

“This historic consolidation, the largest of its kind in Illinois, has a strong emphasis on staff, by promoting wellness, providing enhanced technology, increased training opportunities, and mentoring for future leadership positions,” according to the release.

Consolidation also cuts costs, Kern said.

“If those seven dispatch centers have to replace phone systems or computer-aided dispatch systems, individually that can start to become a large ticket item,” Kern said.

With the emergence of mobile phones, 911 calls also often are directed to the wrong communications center. Kern said having everything in one place will reduce call transfers and allow them to respond to calls faster.

“The completion of the LakeComm transition represents an extraordinary accomplishment and the culmination of more than a decade of work,” LakeComm Chairman Kevin Timony said. “Together, we’ve built a system designed to deliver exceptional 911 service for years to come.”