The New 911 Center

[Keith]

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of touring the new 911 center, located at 715 Robert S. Kerr. An organization I belong to, The Citizen's Fire Academy Alumni Association, held their monthly meeting at the 911 center. We also supplied pizza for all of the employees at the center. I couldn't get very many pictures inside, due to the low lighting, however, I did get some pics of the outside.









This is not a very good picture, but that is me sitting at the fire dept. dispatch desk.

[Midtowner]

My next door neighbor.. I watched them build that thing. It is built like a bunker.

[Doug Loudenback]

Thanks, Keith! It looks good!

What is the space used for? I don't know a thing about 911 Centers and what's needed for a good one, which I presume this one is.

[Patrick]

Thanks, Keith! It looks good!

What is the space used for? I don't know a thing about 911 Centers and what's needed for a good one, which I presume this one is.

I also don't know for sure, but I'm guessing it's where all of the 911 dispatchers are located. From that central location they can dispatch the police, fire dept., and EMSA.

[Keith]

The new 911 center houses all of police, fire, and EMSA. They are actually all in the same huge room. I have never seen so much computer equipment and monitors in my life. The police take up most of the west end of the room, while EMSA and the fire department share the east end. Public Service (formerly EOC), also has their corner in the room. I would say that the room is about the size of half a football field.

What amazed me is how quiet it was in there. You hear very little talking, which is good...otherwise, it breaks their concentration.

Security is real tight inside and out. At the entrance of the employee parking lot (off of Shartel), there is a closed gate, and a speaker system on a pole. The only way to get in is for them to open the gate for you (except for employees that have a special code). When you go to the first door, they also have to buzz you in. If you aren't wearing an ID, you will be questioned.

The actual front door of the center is on Robert S. Kerr. You can get inside the lobby easily, however, again, you must have proper credentials to actually get inside the center.

I know one thing.......it sure beats the old dungeon that they were in on Martin Luther King. No windows at all. Now they have windows, however, inside the actual dispatch area, there are no windows.

This new center is so much better, because all three agencies can now communicate more efficiently with each other.

Thanks, Keith! It looks good!

What is the space used for? I don't know a thing about 911 Centers and what's needed for a good one, which I presume this one is.

[Doug Loudenback]

Thanks, Keith, for the good report.

Just curious, but why the need for such tight security? I mean, is the secuity greater than, for example, to enter the "regular" OCPD office, a block south?

[mranderson]

Thanks, Keith, for the good report.

Just curious, but why the need for such tight security? I mean, is the secuity greater than, for example, to enter the "regular" OCPD office, a block south?

All you need to do is think about what use to be about three blocks south of the building.

[Doug Loudenback]

I'm drawing blanks, Mr. Anderson. What happened about 3 blocks south of the 911 building?

Keith, do you have any impressions as to how many 911 calls are made in a typical day or week?