FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8-14 is set aside in Springfield and across the nation as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week to recognize the outstanding service of 9-1-1 dispatchers. Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications will honor 9-1-1 employees with several activities, including the official proclamation, signed by Mayor Ken McClure and City Manager Greg Burris, as well as Greene County Administrator Chris Coulter and the Greene County commissioners.
"Our 9-1-1 personnel answer 700 to 800 calls every day. Those folks in our community who need help rely on us to be the ‘first’ first responders that they hear on the other end of the line,” says Director Zim Schwartze. “We receive thousands of calls in our county each year with a wide range of emergency situations. Springfield and Greene County are very fortunate to have such highly trained and committed staff in our Operations Center, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I'm honored to be a part of the 9-1-1 department and to work with such dedicated folks."
About Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications
Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications received nearly 264,000 9-1-1 emergency calls in 2017 with nearly 82 percent of calls from a wireless device. These numbers continue to increase each year.
The "text-to-9-1-1" capability was formally implemented in February for situations when people are unable to communicate audibly via telephone.
Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications proudly dispatches for 13 fire agencies:
- Ash Grove Fire Protection District
- Battlefield Fire Protection District
- Bois D’Arc Fire Protection District
- Brookline Fire Protection District
- Ebenezer Fire Protection District
- Fair Grove Fire Protection District
- Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District
- Republic Fire Department
- Springfield Fire Department
- Strafford Fire Protection District
- Walnut Grove Fire Protection District
- West Republic Fire Protection District
- Willard Fire Protection District.
They also are honored to serve nine law enforcement agencies:
- Ash Grove Police Department
- Battlefield Police Department
- Fair Grove Police Department
- Greene County Sheriff’s Office
- Republic Police Department
- Springfield Police Department
- Strafford Police Department
- Walnut Grove Police Department
- Willard Police Department.
Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 receives the initial 9-1-1 calls for medical assistance that is transferred to CoxHealth or Mercy Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for dispatch.
“We are so fortunate to have excellent working relationships with our area emergency medical dispatch teams,” says Schwartze.
Schwartze reminds citizens to contact 9-1-1 when they need police, fire and/or emergency medical ambulance response.
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For more information about 9-1-1 tours and presentations, please contact Zim Schwartze at 417-829-6209 or [email protected]