Harvey County
Communications Center
316-283-4190 (Dispatch) - 316-283-4892 (Fax)
316-284-6850 (Director)
316-284-6848 (Assistant Director/Data Systems Administrator)
MISSION
STATEMENT
"The mission of the
Harvey County Communications
(9-1-1) began operations in January 1982 in the basement of the Harvey County
Courthouse, and moved to the current 2700 square foot center in 1997. Located
at 120 East 7th in
We dispatch for Burrton, 
over 35,000 citizens in
Ron Hoffman retired in September 2005 after 32 years of service to
Current
Director of Communications Courtney
Becker oversees
a staff consisting of an Assistant Director/Data Systems Administrator, 11
full-time dispatchers, 3 part-time dispatchers and a part-time administrative
assistant. The dispatch staff is NAEMD and NCIC certified and utilizes a CAD
System from Larimore
Associates.
Our center has 4 call-taker/radio positions (City, County, Fire/EMS and Backup). The radio consoles are Zetron computer touch screen consoles. Our communications systems are VHF except for the mobile data computers. Our County Law Enforcement and Fire/EMS channels utilize voting repeaters, which incorporate remote receiving sites to enhance portable radio coverage. In 2004 we were awarded a grant from the Public Safety Foundation of America. This PFSA Grant provided 75% of the funding necessary to upgrade our 9-1-1 system to receive and locate wireless 9-1-1 calls. Prior to this upgrade, when someone called 9-1-1 from a cell phone, we were unable to get a phone number or location of the caller unless they were able to tell us. Many wireless callers are unable to give an accurate location. With the new technology, if the caller has a GPS-enabled cell phone, we will see their location on a map almost instantly. 2002 1st Runner-Up/2003 Kansas APCO Telecommunicator of the Year Don Gruver, our Data Systems Administrator, prepared the Grant Application and prepared the GIS mapping which forms the basis for locating wireless callers.
As you can see, we use State of the Art equipment to assure the safety and
well being of the citizens and emergency responders we serve. Because of its
advanced operations, the
Here are some of our statistics from recent year-end reports to show you our typical workload:
In 2002, Communications joined other Harvey County Departments in a Quality
Assurance Program. We send out random surveys to citizens who have called 9-1-1
and get feedback on the level of service they received. In 2003, our
satisfaction rating was 97.46%; in 2004 it rose to 98.3%. Also included in the
QA program is a review of the time it takes to Dispatch a Fire or
The responsibilities of 9-1-1 Dispatchers include:
- Promptly answering and processing calls on 10 emergency and 7 administrative lines.
- Monitoring and answering 13 radio frequencies.
- Using Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) system to offer immediate basic life support instructions by telephone until units arrive.
- Coordinating Law Enforcement,
- Gathering information from the scene prior to unit arrival to assure the safety of those responding, and monitor their safety throughout the call.
- Offering support, guidance and structure to emergency callers until units arrive and take physical control of the scene.
- Monitor and activate
weather-warning sirens in
- Monitor, Dispatch, and
collect fees for over 300 alarms connected directly into the
- Enter wanted, missing or endangered persons and stolen property into the National Crime Information Computer and maintain and update those entries as needed.
- Process and disseminate Criminal History Record Checks for court and Law Enforcement personnel.
- Sending the right units, at the right time, in the right way; to protect the lives and property of those we serve.
Dispatchers are also kept busy
with Public Relations work to inform the public about our local 9-1-1 system.
1999 Kansas APCO Telecommunicator of the Year Liz Sauerwein,
teaches "Survival Kids" to area 3rd graders. This curriculum based
course, based on history and mapping skills, gives students insight into how
the 9-1-1 emergency number is used and has evolved through the years. 9-1-1
staff also makes available presentations to the Newton Police Department
Citizen's Academy, Leadership Newton, Job Fairs, Summer Safety courses, and
tours.
Dispatchers Courtney Becker, Don Gruver and Carson Nuss also serve on the Emergency Response Team as Tactical Dispatchers, taking their communications, documentation and resource gathering skills into the field to assist field commanders. Their focus while on scene is on just that incident, not the other calls and activity within the communications center.
The well being of the staff is a concern as well. Emergency Services work is
very stressful at times, and built-up stress can take its toll on individuals.
Therefore,
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9-1-1 web sites
of interest: |
Our primary radio frequencies:
159.165 Ch 1 - 154.845 Ch 2
- 154.325 Ch 3 Fire/EMS
- 154.995 Ops 4
- 154.755 Ops 5
- 154.040 Ops 6
- 155.040 City Utility
- 151.025
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