Citizens for South Sound 911 wishes to thank Pierce County voters for approving Proposition 1. The firefighters, law enforcement officers, 911 dispatchers and business leaders who supported the measure are grateful for the strong approval by voters. Leaders of first responder agencies will immediately get to work on building a seamless emergency communications system.

Thank you for visiting this site, hosted by Citizens for South Sound 911, to learn more about a proposal from fire and police leaders to build a seamless communications system that makes everyone in Pierce County safer.

Below is a 30-second ad that we hope to air on local television. It features Sgt. Nick Hausner, who experienced firsthand the failures of our emergency communications system after he and his partner, Deputy Kent Mundell, were shot. There’s no way to tell the story in 30 seconds, but it provides a glimpse of the problems our first responders face in the field. Click here to read more about what happened that night.

Commercial airtime is very expensive. We would appreciate your financial assistance so we can air this commercial during the voting period. To support the campaign, please click on the red “How You Can Help” box to the right, and feel free to share this video on your social networks.

Here are key things you will learn on the rest of this site:

The system is broken: Pierce County’s patchwork of public safety radio communications and dispatch centers needs immediate upgrading to meet new federal and state mandates. Our system is fragmented and soon to be obsolete. Too often police and fire cannot directly communicate with each other when responding to an emergency because they use different radio systems. Coverage gaps frequently put first responders out of radio contact.

We can improve public safety: South Sound 911 will provide a seamless regional solution. Next Generation technologies – along with the merged efforts of existing, experienced dispatchers – will create efficiencies that greatly improve safety for all citizens, businesses and first responders in Pierce County.

Police, fire and EMS leaders throughout Pierce County developed this solution. Since we have to make changes due to the mandates, let’s eliminate the inefficient, patchwork system of dispatch centers and radio systems and build a regional network.

Not a permanent tax: The County Council included a “sunset clause” so that the sales tax increase expires after the construction bonds are paid off.

Let’s give dispatchers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and paramedics the tools they need to respond faster and improve their safety – and ours.

Please vote to APPROVE Prop 1 on November 8th.