Feb. 06--The few seconds it takes to transfer a call can mean the difference between life and death.
But that's no longer a concern for local emergency crews.
The McDowell County Sheriff's Office moved its telecommunications operation to the new 911 center Monday, making it a true consolidated communications facility. Now, all emergency services personnel -- fire departments, EMS and Rescue Squad -- and all local law enforcement officers -- Marion and Old Fort police departments and the Sheriff's Office -- are dispatched out of the same room.
"Ultimately, this is going to be a benefit to the citizens," said Sheriff Dudley Greene. "A lot of times phone calls were having to be transferred from here to there or information was having to be relayed from one person to another to another. This move is going to cut all of that out."
On Sept. 1, 2011, the police and 911 dispatchers moved into the new facility located in the bottom of the Marion Police Department. Sheriff's Office telecommunicators stayed at their office for a while longer. Their move was complete Monday.
"We just ask that people be patient with us through this transition," Greene stated. "There will be minor adjustments that everyone will have to make."
The most major of those, according to the sheriff, is a change in the phone number. For as long as the Sheriff's Office has existed, its number has been 652-4000. Those calls will now go to the 911 communications center. Anyone having routine business with Sheriff's Office is asked to call 652-2235. The jail number is 652-2236, and this investigations division can be reached at 652-2237.
Anyone needing to reach the Police Department for routine business can call 652-5205. Individuals having an emergency should call 911.
But despite the move, Greene stated, there will always be someone at the Sheriff's Office to talk to citizens.
"We are adjusting our procedures a little," he said. "There will be someone out front on weekdays, but, on nights and weekends, people will have to use the jail window to conduct their business."
Greene stated that he has five telecommunications slots. Four of those people were sent to the consolidated 911 center. The other one will remain at the Sheriff's Office to help people during daytime hours and answer the business phone.
"If you call or walk in, you will always be able to speak with somebody," the sheriff stated. "You might have to call a different number or go to a different window, but someone will be there."
Greene thanked Emergency Management Director Terry Young, County Manager Chuck Abernathy and the county commissioners for making the transition smooth.
Copyright 2012 - The McDowell News, Marion, N.C.
