Response From Chief Of Police To 9-1-1 Release

Release by Carthage Police Department

I’m disappointed that Mr. Cade (Director) didn’t contact the Carthage Police Department before he attempted to relay to the citizens how Carthage conducted activities regarding the 9-1-1 system in "the old days" because if he had he would have found something quite the opposite of what he had written in his news release. We, the Carthage Police Department, went through many anxious situations where we were required to trace for the location of an unknown 9-1-1 call. This was a manual process where we had to call the phone company on a designated line, 24 hours a day. Our old system also had the capability of "ringing back" the phone used to call 9-1-1. Numerous times if the call had been placed from a someone pay phone walking by would answer the phone even if they had not made the initial call.

To say "The notion that is it was important they would call back..." is both absurd and irresponsible.

9-1-1 Board Cites Dangers Of False 9-1-1 Calls and Call Hangups

Release by Jasper County 9-1-1 Board

Since cutover on August 1, 1997, hundreds of false 9-1-1 and 9-1-1 hang-ups have been received at the County 9-1-1 Center. Such calls are dangerous and threaten life and property.

Center Director William Cade reports that false 9-1-1 calls and 9-1-1 hang-ups from which no recontact with the calling location can be made, create a substantial risk to other, real 9-1-1 callers in several ways. First, since the 9-1-1 Team has no way of knowing if the hang up is a false call, the Center must broadcast the location of the call to the appropriate local emergency services. Is this a case of domestic violence and the victim is not safe? Could it be an effort to reach help by an ill or injured person? What if it is a report of a house fire and the caller cannot complete the call. Most residents would agree that since 9-1-1 is seldom dialed by accident and used to summon assistance for an event requiring immediate response, therefore simply disregarding such calls is clearly irresponsible. In the old days of basic 9-1-1, like Carthage and Joplin had, no address of the call was available so ignoring such calls was rather common. The notion that if it was important they would call back was less troubling since the answering point could not know from where the call had originated.

With Enhanced 9-1-1 being provided now for many and new addresses being added daily, the decision to ignore such calls is less defensible, said Cade. Our 9-1-1 Team members try to reconnect on every 9-1-1 hang-up. If they can make contact with a responsible person at the callers’ location, some basic questions are used to assess what the problem is or was at the time of the call. The appropriate law enforcement agency is dispatched even if the caller says all is well, since cases have already been made in which the caller was in trouble but afraid to ask for assistance when recontacted. Further, some 9-1-1 hang-ups have led emergency responders to medical and social problems in progress at homes and businesses around the County.

On 9-1-1 calls in which no person can be contacted at the location of the call; fire, law, and medical services are advised per County 9-1-1 rules. The local agencies are free to respond as they see fit, some respond as if it is an emergency while others respond without emergency signals and attempt to make contact at the location with the caller or other responsible person.

The danger these calls create is first, the loss of emergency resources for real calls that may be received during the time the agencies are elsewhere, checking a false call or hang-up. Secondly, the movement of emergency personnel and apparatus; law, fire, and medical is always a risk since some dangers exist during the "run" to the location. Thirdly, the cost to local communities as well as the disruption of normal workdays of emergency service volunteers has become an issue. For example, John is an EMT and works at the local garage, how many times will his civic minded supervisor let him leave work, interrupting the work plan, to go to calls that end up being false and of no real value to fellow citizens.

In other communities, the law enforcement agency wants to respond first and then determine what other emergency services might be needed. The danger in this plan is simply the lost time of effective fire and medical response should the call actually require such services. All of these reasons should lead community leaders to join the County 9-1-1 Center in being very concerned about false 9-1-1 and 9-1-1 hang-up calls. This is not an issue to argue about, said Cade, rather it is a challenge to be met and resolved by thoughtful individuals.

Public education is of course one tool used in this struggle. The County 9-1-1 Board has sponsored a 9-1-1 Poster Contest, awarding T-shirts to the winners in each K-6 grades of our schools in hopes of helping youngsters understand the importance of using 9-1-1 properly. In other communities, a local ordinance has been suggested that would require the responsible person to pay for the cost of the emergency response should a false 9-1-1 call come from their home or business. Somehow these calls have to be significantly decreased without denying proper emergency responses as needed.

No matter what remedies are suggested, the dangers that false 9-1-1 and 9-1-1 hang-ups create are real. The Jasper County 9-1-1 Board believes that for the good of the public we should be working together to resolve this problem rather than using it to cause distrust in the County 9-1-1 system.

Stopped by the Ethics in Decision Making seminar put on for the High School seniors by the Chamber yesterday. About 250 seniors and 35 business and professional folks who volunteered to head up small groups.

Business and Education Committee chair Neel Baucom says the annual event, this year was the third, has been successful because of the community support.

He not only was enthusiastic about the volunteers who donate a full day out of their work schedule, he cited several businesses that help pay for the effort.

Basically the seniors are presented with several situations that require a decision. The table leaders then guide them through a discussion, but the decision is made by the group. The resulting reports to the rest of the crowd are sometimes humorous, but typically sound, ethical resolutions to the problem.

It’s worth stoppin’ by just ta see 250 high school students workin’ on a common goal.

This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray: I want to buy a new or recent-model car but I am very tall and can’t find one that allows me to see out of the windshield without looking through the tinted glass at the top. Some models have enough headroom for me, but then I end up looking at the world through that blue tint. Do you have any suggestions for a sedan, minivan or utility vehicle that might fit me? - Charles

Tom: This is a tough question to answer, Charles, because everyone’s body is different. Some people come with very long legs. Some people come with long torsos.

Ray: Well, as a general rule, Charles, trucks tend to have more headroom than cars. So you might look at a sport utility vehicle based on a truck, like the Ford Explorer.

Tom: And in our experience, Japanese cars tend to be hard on taller people, too. So if you’re looking for a sedan, you’ll probably be better off with a big American or European model.

Ray: Finally, you should look for something with a height-adjustable driver’s seat. The more adjustments you can make, the greater the likelihood you’ll find a comfortable driving position.

Tom: But if you’ve already found a car you like that fits you, and the only problem is that blue "sunscreen," we have an even better solution for you. Just replace the windshield.

Ray: Right. Most windshields can be ordered with or without that screen. And if the dealer won’t order one for you on the new car (which he probably would do in order to make the sale), you can always go to an auto glass place and order one yourself.

Tom: Check first to make sure one’s available on the car want, but that solve you should your problem, Charles.

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