The State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) and Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator's Office (CICO) determined a common language protocol that allows the use of plain English for most transmissions. The initiative has been endorsed by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, Virginia Sheriffs Association, Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, Virginia Association and the Virginia State Police.
"The use of coded language often can result in confusion and miscommunication because local, regional and state public safety agencies use different codes. This is a problem especially during mutual aid incidents where multiple jurisdictions and disciplines must work together," Governor
Kaine said the change would improve interoperability and better mutual aid, saying: "Virginia is leading the way in reaching an understanding across our public safety community to take this significant step towards improved interoperability."
While the National Incident Management System (NIMS) requires common language for mutual aid situations, the state went a step further by encouraging common language usage on a day-to-day basis for all responders.
"If responders do not use common language on a daily basis they will revert back to the codes they have always used in a crisis situation," said Charlottesville Fire Chief and SIEC Chairman Charles Werner.
"There will still be certain situations in which public-safety professionals need coded language to do the job safely," said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police. "But for the majority of incidents, the use of common language will be of great benefit for those responding to and managing a scene."
The SIEC and the CICO will continue to obtain endorsements from Virginia's public safety community and work with training academies across the state to begin training on the protocol.
