Gordon County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed the week of April 14-20, 2013 as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in Gordon County. This week is designated as a time when citizens can recognize their emergency communication professionals. Specifically, Gordon County citizens can thank their 911 call takers and dispatchers by attending a public open house at the Gordon County 911 Center (located on Curtis Parkway across from OWASA Medical Building) on Tuesday, April 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Interesting Facts about the Gordon County 911 Center
- Began operations in 1993.
- 22 full-time employees.
- $1.6M annual budget.
- Obtains funding from a $1.50 per month surcharge on all wired telephones, $1.50 per month surcharge on all wireless telephones, $1.50 per month surcharge on all VOIP telephones, and a contribution from the City of Calhoun.
- Dispatches calls for: County Sheriff, County Fire, County Animal Control, Calhoun Police, Calhoun Fire, Calhoun Animal Control, Gordon Hospital Ambulance Service, Fairmount Police, and assists County Public Works, Calhoun Public Works, Georgia Dept. of Transportation, and Georgia State Patrol.
- Answers over 100,000 emergency and non-emergency calls per year.
- Was named as the 911 Center of the Year (2012) and Debbie Vance was named 911 Director of the Year (2012) by the Georgia Association of Public Safety Communications Officers and the Georgia Chapter of the National Emergency Numbers Association.
- All dispatchers (communication officers) must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, 40 hours of Basic Communications training to become a certified communication officer by the Peace Officers Standard Training (POST), 24 hours of Emergency Medical Dispatch training and an additional 24 hours every two years for re-certification, and be certified in operating the Georgia Criminal Information Center database and additional training every two year for re-certification.
