WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
St. Joseph County Central’s Dispatch had a demanding year in 2017, marked by failures of equipment, shortage of manpower and a significant amount of overtime.
Still, director Dennis Brandenburg, said the agency between 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls fielded more than 96,000 calls last year. The information was provided during a recent annual report presented to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners.
Brandenburg said more than 30,000 calls were 9-1-1 emergency calls made from either landline, cell or Voice-Over Internet phones. He noted that 19 9-1-1 texts were fielded in 2017, the first year the agency was able to accept emergency reports via text.
One notable change in 2017 was the length of training for dispatchers, which was extended to 32 weeks from what was originally 16 weeks.
