PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- First responders in Portland and South Portland have a new way to handle emergency situations, with updated technology that they hope will lead to more coordination.
Public safety officials from the two cities unveiled a new regional command vehicle Monday afternoon. The unit is equipped with a dispatch center, conference room, smart boards, and cameras to help officials manage emergencies.
Money for the $400 thousand unit came from a FEMA Port Security Grant.
Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck said it will be used for larger events and incidents - such as a Presidential visit, or active shooter scenario.
"Command and control is truly the line between life and death," said Chief Sauschuck. "We're required to make life and death decisions, to give guidance to our officers, to our firefighters, our EMS personnel, at all of these emergency scenes."
In the past, the departments had borrowed a mobile command center from Maine State Police.
