For Release: April 15, 2005
Contact: Paul Helmke, Chairman, SentryPoints, (260) 469-4411
Tom Teague, COO, SentryPoints, (260) 469-4411

Nation's Newest Emergency Command Center Unveiled in Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN - SentryPoints, LLC, today unveiled the nation's newest Executive Command Center (EC2) at its facility in downtown Fort Wayne.   The EC2 includes an executive crisis management and training facility as well as a media room.

"We are pleased to bring this world-class facility to Fort Wayne," said Paul Helmke, Chairman of SentryPoints.

"Our EC2 provides what we believe is the first fully integrated command station allowing a Mayor or County Executive's leadership team to be tied into a crisis response effort without needing to be in the middle of the traditional responder-level emergency operations center," said Don Willis, CEO, SentryPoints.   "Whether that crisis is a natural disaster such as a flood, an accident such as a tanker truck overturning, or a major criminal or terrorist incident, the EC2 allows high level responsiveness."

"Immediate and seamless access to the right information is critical in an emergency," Helmke said.   "The EC2 and SentryPoints software system provides that access.   These capabilities can also help in the day-to-day challenges of governing a community, managing public works as well as public safety, and communicating with the public through the media."

In addition to its possible use during a crisis, the facility has been designed for inter-agency coordination and training.   "People do not always realize the enormous need for continual training for our public safety agencies," Willis said.   "What we have heard from local government officials across the country is their need to train in a cost-effective manner.   Therefore, we have designed the EC2 as a fully functional training facility in addition to its use as the nerve center during emergencies."

The EC2 includes multiple computer workstations, televisions for monitoring weather and media, and wired and wireless high speed data connectivity.   The workstations operate SentryPoints command and control software, allowing near real time situation awareness through a unique "Executive Dashboard" screen for use by a Mayor or County Executive, seamless communication and integration, and comprehensive data capture which can be used for event debriefing as well as on-going training.  

SentryPoints is hosting an open house and on-going presentations on Friday, April 15, 2005, from 9 - 11 a.m. and 2 - 4 p.m. at the EC2 which is located in the FourthWave Building, 300 East Main Street, Fort Wayne.   Federal, State and local government officials, including State Senator Thomas Wyss and Executive Director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, J. Eric Dietz, Ph.D. have been invited and are expected to attend.