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Jasper County Emergency Dispatch Center Consolidation

By: Melanie Huonker
Updated: March 19, 2013
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CARTHAGE, MO.--- If you're a Jasper County resident, your 911 calls first go to the Jasper County 911 Dispatch Center.

"You would have to explain where you're at, the nature of your emergency, and then your call would be transferred," said Sheriff Randee Kaiser, Jasper County.

Transferred next to a dispatcher at the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

"You'd again have to explain the nature of your emergency and a deputy would be dispatched from there," says Sheriff Kaiser.

That will now change. Under a new agreement, the Jasper County 911 Dispatch Center will take on dispatching services for the sheriff's office.

"It's just a whole lot cheaper to get quicker response going to from the 911, straight to the emergency, whether it be fire, sheriff, or ambulance," states John Bartosh, Jasper County Presiding Commissioner.

The consolidation will save time from not having to transfer 911 calls from one place to another.

"You're talking to the person who can push the button and say to the deputy, 'hey here's the emergency, here's what's going on,' and they're immediately in route," says Bartosh.

Deputies have already started the changeover by installing software in their car computers.

"It allows the 911 center to communicate with cars individually or as groups," says Sheriff Kaiser.

The move will ultimately save the sheriff's office about $450,000 a year and improve response times.

"I think it's a tremendous benefit for the citizens having that security, and piece of mind knowing they have one 911 operator handling all of their needs," says Sheriff Kaiser.

Under the deal, the sheriff's office will give their dispatching equipment to the 911 center. In turn, the dispatch center will provide services to the sheriff's office for free until May 30th of 2014.

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