Richland County Sheriff's new technology system expected to be completed by early 2025

A new computerized dispatch, recordkeeping and information system for the Richland County Sheriff’s Office is 99% operational and should be fully installed before the end of this year.

As a result, county commissioners on Thursday voted to give a formal 30-day notice to cancel a support service contract with Central Square Technologies, now known as Superion Technology, for the old system.

“We kept the old contract for at least a half a year so we could go back and reference anything that might be needed during the transition from one application to the other,” said Michelle Snyder from the county auditor’s IT department.

Commissioners in 2023 approved a $1.4 million contract with Tyler Technologies of Plano, Texas, for a new computer-aided dispatch system for the county’s 911 operations that will provide better data input and easier access to stored information. The comprehensive system allows a variety of call information to be inputted into the system and retrieved by participating safety service agencies in different ways, including laptop computers, tablets and cell phones.

The system also includes mapping tools for dispatchers and first responders, a direct interface with online sites for tax and bank foreclosures, and the ability for law enforcement officers to electronically file cases, citations, criminal summonses and other paperwork with Shelby Municipal Court. There also is an enterprise corrections section that allows the jail division to create its own reports.

Conversion to new system is being done in stages

Sheriff’s Office Administrative Capt. Jim Sweat told the News Journal the computer-aided dispatch system went online in May, the jail management software should go online in August and an agency intelligence program to track things such as use of force, fleet vehicle accidents and discipline should be online at the beginning of 2025.

Sweat said officials are “extremely happy” with how the system is working.

“Obviously any project with this many new moving parts we’ve had some hiccups, but that’s to be expected with a project this big. Overall, we’re extremely satisfied with the product,” he said.

Sweat said officials appreciate that the commissioners supported the department with the project and called it a great opportunity to partner with the Ontario Police Department.

“This is just showing how the county is wisely spending taxpayer dollars by including other county agencies in the system,” he added.

Commissioners voted in December 2022 to allocate $1,085,821 in ARPA funds to pay for the hardware, software license and service agreements with Tyler Technologies.

Commissioners OK two appointments

In other business, commissioners hired Heather Thoman as the board’s assistant clerk and administrative assistant to replace Belinda Fulton, who retired May 31 after 21 years with the board. Thoman is scheduled to start Monday at a starting salary of $19 per hour for a one-year probationary period.

Thoman previously worked at the Child Support Enforcement Agency before moving to South Carolina when her husband received a work promotion.

“Her husband recently got another promotion and (they) moved back to the area, and when she came back just a few weeks ago Richland County was the first call she made and we just happened to have a position available,” said Commissioner Tony Vero. “She enjoyed working for Richland County in Child Support and in the office.”

Vero said the board received more than 300 applications and did about one dozen telephone interviews and five in person.

Commissioners also appointed Michelle Snyder to fill a vacancy on the county Law Library Resources Board. Snyder is the court administrator for Mansfield Municipal Court Judge David Badnell.

“Michelle has vast experience in the legal world both in the private sector and now in the public sector,” Vero said. “We have vetted all conflicts with the prosecutor’s office to make sure that a Mansfield Municipal Court employee can in fact serve on the law library board and we got the go head.”

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County Sheriff's new technology system expected to be completed by early 2025