Continual upgrades to increase efficiency of the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center, with the latest technology and additional training, enable the dispatchers to assist callers with faster and more accurate responses.
As time has gone on, more people almost automatically have begun calling 911 when there is an emergency, or sometimes just a problem. The number of callers who expect to speak to one of the emergency dispatchers has increased over the years the center has been in operation.
In the present day, it is almost automatic for a person to call 911 when there is an emergency or something out of the ordinary. The caller expects to speak to one of the emergency dispatchers and have help on the way almost immediately. Usually it is.
It wasn't always this way, though. The Moniteau County Emergency Dispatch office has only "been there" for 17 years.
Not only has Emergency Dispatch been at the other end of the telephone at the simple dialing of "911", the technological advances in general, more accurate location methods, upgrades in computer assisted dispatch, the telephone systems and other resources have brought help to those in need much quicker as the years have gone by.
The Computer Aided Dispatch system put into service nearly two years ago added to the overall efficiency of the center. A major advance in dispatching is "Phase II" which allows a dispatcher to determine the cell phone number, the name of the phone owners and, if GPS equipped, the cell phone location. There are other advances, including computers, Network clocks for the dispatch room and the new Eventide recorder.
There are also upgrades in the mapping program by the dispatchers.
Future plans include a radio console software upgrade. Since emergency services may be needed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, a number of dispatchers are on staff on a full-time or part-time basis.
Corey Sullivan is 911 Administrator. Current full-time dispatchers include Shelby Barnett, David Bledsoe, Becky Forsythe, Denise Nehl, Tonya Price, John Strickfaden, Samantha Lewis, Jennifer Harris and Sullivan.
Part-time dispatchers include: Sarah Jones, Vic Maurer, Kevin Morse, Bill Roll and Edward Wiecken.