Officials in White County are recoginzing an important milestone in their county's coverage for emergency and public safety.
Thursday, August 1 marked the 30 year anniversary of the official opening of operations for White County's E911 Communications department and center, and a cornerstone of the community's emergency response system.
David Murphy, Director of the White County Office of Public Safety,says in a press release that, "The establishment of White County 911 was a milestone for our community. It has undoubtedly saved countless lives and improved the efficiency of emergency response. We are grateful for the vision and dedication of those who made this possible."
Don Strength, Division Chief of White County 911 Communications, added, "Celebrating 30 years of service is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team. We continue to strive for excellence in providing emergency services and ensuring the safety of our residents."
White County 911 began operations with eight dispatchers, two per shift, and a 911 Director, centralizing all emergency calls to a single, easy-to-remember number, thus streamlining the response process and significantly improving emergency services.
Today, the White County 911 Communications Center is staffed with a team of 18 full-time and 3 part-time dispatchers. In 2023, the center handled a total of 164,017 calls for service, this includes emergency 911 calls, non-emergency calls, and officer-initiated calls. The center monitors 16 channels of radio traffic and ensures seamless communication and coordination among the 11 public service departments throughout White County, including the City of Cleveland and the City of Helen.
