South Metro Emergency Communications Center - IDT
The Incident Dispatch Team (IDT) is a team of specially trained dispatchers operating locally. The specialized team was established for rapid deployment to major incidents to facilitate communications, logistics and planning functions during the first operational period.
Why Build an IDT?
- The 9/11 Commission Report identified interoperability and communications as top priorities requiring improvement in public safety response.
- 15 years later, most after action reviews of major incidents continue to list communications as an area in need of improvement.
- Command & Communication vehicles can not solve problems alone.
- Trained and experienced personnel are required to make the systems work.
- Not every critical incident requires or can accommodate these large vehicles.
- Frequent training, pre-planning and interaction between dispatch & operations personnel can help prevent common communication problems.
- Deploying trained dispatch personnel to the scene of major incidents can help mitigate communications issues early on.
Training to become a Member of IDT
The Incident Dispatch Team (IDT) members are required to obtain more training than a dispatcher. This includes:
- ICS 400, S130/S190, RADO, 24 hour Academy, minimum 12 hours annual training
- ComT & ComL for Tier 1
- CEVO & IPAD driving classes
What is the Role of the IDT Team?
- The IDT is designed to take the burden of a major incident off of MetCom. This allows the team to more effectively manage the district and other incidents.
- The Incident Dispatcher will assume all comm-related duties from the scene
- Full dispatch functionality on scene
- Blue Card qualification allows IDT members to fill an aide role if needed on scene
- IDT can also assist with resource ordering & accountability
- IDT helps with documentation of the incident
- The team also helps with Com Plan and interoperability solutions