MOUNT VERNON — Knox County has been moving to consolidate its two 9-1-1 call centers into one location, at the County Service Center building, but several concerns were brought up in a recent public hearing questioning the choice of locations.
With that in mind, the News questioned neighboring counties to determine how the call centers were set up and what duties the dispatchers were required to perform.
In Coshocton County the 9-1-1 call center is part of the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Department and handles all police, fire and EMS dispatching in the county. However, the Coshocton County situation is unusual in that there is no Coshocton City Police Department. Policing in the city was turned over to the Sheriff’s Office years ago.
Lt. Dean Hettinger said there are at least two dispatchers on duty 24 hours a day, but they also generally wear more than one hat. They use the LEADS (Law Enforcement Automated Data System) system, some are bonded and can take bond payments and some of the female dispatchers are also female matrons for the jail, searching women prisoners when they are brought in, for example.
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