Case Study: WA-COP (Washington Common Operating Platform) achieves unified multi-agency emergency coordination and faster mass notification with BlackBerry AtHoc Connect

Washington State Implements Emergency System Using AtHoc Connect for First Responders

Washington Common Operating Platform (WA-COP), a Puget Sound regional consortium coordinating public safety across local, state, federal and private partners, needed to upgrade emergency communications that were fragmented across agencies and prone to breakdown during large, multi-jurisdiction incidents. Faced with disparate procedures, frequent staff turnover, and the high cost and risk of building a system from scratch, WA‑COP sought a flexible, interoperable solution that would work with existing agency tools.

WA‑COP adopted a modular, best‑of‑breed approach and chose BlackBerry AtHoc Connect for mass notification, interoperable communications, and user-defined operational views that integrate with existing systems. The solution connected dozens of agencies, improved situational awareness and coordination, delivered reliable, flexible crisis communications that speed response and protect lives and property, and provided a cost‑effective platform open for expansion across Washington.

WA-COP

Bob Pessemier

Senior Technology Consultant