NEWS 25 - WEHT: Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro-New Union County Central Dispatch In The Works

New Union County Central Dispatch In The Works

UNION CO., KY - A new Union County central dispatch is in the works. Right now if you make a 911 call in Union County, the call is directed through Kentucky State Police in Henderson. We find out what this new dispatch system means for the county and residents.

The new central dispatch will be based out of Morganfield and serve all of Union County. After talking with County Emergency Management, we are told the switch wasn't just a safety decision.

"Right now we don't have a certified central dispatch," says Vernon Martin with Union County Emergency Management. But if all goes as planned, come October that will no longer be the case.

A dispatcher mans the line for the current Morganfield Police Department dispatch, but can only field 911 calls from state police in Henderson, who answers the call and sends them to Morganfield, Sturgis, or an ambulance service in the county.

Martin showed us what's in the works, which will combine all three and cut out the middleman. He says a computer automated dispatch system is being installed allowing dispatchers to take calls from all over the county.

"It will speed their work up make their work easier," says Martin.

Martin says by cutting out the middleman, police, ambulance service and firefighters will be dispatched sooner, cutting down on their response time, making it safer for you.

Martin tells us, "Once the Viper System is in and we upgrade our dispatch system the calls will actually physically be answered here."

Martin says Viper is a $360,000 system they'll be adding. It connects Union County to surrounding dispatchers in case of a major emergency.

When the system is installed, dispatchers will be answering the phone more often. And that means more funding. And also, Martin says, "Better response time, more safety for our citizens."

Martin says no additional dispatchers will need to be hired for this new system. The system's tower is being installed Thursday, and he hopes to have the whole system centralized by October.