OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Technicians have begun phasing old 911 dispatch operations over to Kalamazoo’s new Consolidated Dispatch Center on Stadium Drive.
By the end of the day Wednesday, just in time for trick-or-treat night. they should be handling police and fire dispatch for the entire county.
Executive Director of the Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority Jeff Troyer says it should result in quicker response times and essentially save lives by getting the nearest first responder available to the emergency.
He says the upgraded connections mean once the FCC and telecom carriers are able to implement Next Generation 911, the new center will be able to start using it.
That will improve service to locate mobile and cell phone users, and add other features.
Because of the consolidation, there is a new non-emergency number for the dispatch center for Kalamazoo Public Safety. It’s 269-488-8911.
