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Williams County Communications Agency |
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Where it all began...
9-1-1 is a number intended to be an easy-to-remember, no-coin method of reaching the correct law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies in the event of an emergency. The first use of 9-1-1 took place in Haleyville, Ala. in January 1968.
Congress had declared that 9-1-1 should be the national emergency number. A debate broke out about how 9-1-1 calls should be routed - to the police, fire department or local hospital. Officials settled on the Haleyville police department, and a red telephone to answer the calls. There was not ANI/ALI service with the first installation.
The first 9-1-1-call from Haleyville was made by Alabama Speaker of the House, Rankin Fite on February 16, 1968, to Tom Belvill, a U. S. Representative. Later, the two said they exchanged greetings, hung up and "had coffee & doughnuts."
A 9-1-1 system is considered either Basic 9-1-1 or Enhanced 9-1-1. A Basic 9-1-1 system provides three-digit dialing, does not require a coin for pay telephones and consists of intelligent routing to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that handles dispatch for emergency services in the area from which the call was placed. An Enhanced 9-1-1 system adds the ability to display the caller’s telephone number, address and call history.
9-1-1 became available to the residents in Williams County on May 8, 1991 when the first official 9-1-1 call was placed to the Williams County Communications Agency located at 210 N Beech St, Bryan Ohio. Residents of Williams County Ohio are provided with an Enhanced 9-1-1 system. The Williams County Communications Agency serves as Williams County’s primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). All calls placed from anywhere within Williams County will be answered at the Williams County Communications Agency with the exception of calls placed from within the city limits of Bryan. Bryan City Police Department serves as the secondary PSAP and answers all calls originating from within the city limits. All 9-1-1 calls placed from within the city limits of Bryan will be answered at the Bryan City Police Department. In the event of equipment failure, both agencies are designed to provide a backup system for each other.
The Williams County Communications Agency answers approximately 12,000 9-1-1 calls for service each year. The Williams County Communications Agency provides an answering and dispatching point for all Village Police Departments, the Williams County Sheriff’s Department, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Williams County Civil Defense. In addition, providing after-hours service for the Williams County Dog Warden, Williams County Humane Society, Human Services, Victims Assistance, First Call For Help, Northwestern Electric, as well as Adult and Juvenile Probation.
The Williams County Communications Agency works in conjunction with the local police agencies to provide an interface with the Ohio’s Law Enforcement Automated Data System as well as the National Crime Information Center.
In the event of an extreme emergency, the
Williams County Communications Agency serves as the Emergency Operations
Center. Officials from both county and state agencies will convene to direct
the operations of the emergency at hand.