[Press Release] : National Telecommunications Week

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
Contact: Zim Schwartze, PSJC Director or Scott Smith, Public
Information Officer - (573) 874-7400
 
National Telecommunications Week
 
COLUMBIA, MO (April 5, 2010) - Recognizing the outstanding service of
Columbia and Boone County’s 9-1-1 communications operators is the
purpose of next week’s observance of “National Telecommunications Week,”
April 11-17. The Columbia/Boone County Public Safety Joint
Communications (PSJC) Center will host several activities to highlight
the week, including an open house, tours and the unveiling of an
official proclamation signed by the mayor of the City of Columbia and
the commissioners of Boone County. 
 
“When residents dial 9-1-1, that first calming voice they hear on the
other side of the line is the link between them and the emergency
services they need,” says PSJC Director Zim Schwartze. “Our dispatchers
handle thousands of calls each year, helping residents through every
type of emergency situation. Columbia and Boone County are very
fortunate to have such an excellent and committed staff in our
operations center, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
 
Columbia/Boone County 9-1-1 communications operators received 70,000
9-1-1 emergency calls, nearly 300,000 more phone interactions and
dispatched 278,692 calls for service. Joint Communications currently
dispatches for 10 user agencies in the Columbia/Boone County area. These
include the Columbia Fire Department, Boone County Fire Protection
District, Southern Boone County Fire Protection District, Columbia
Police Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Ashland Police
Department, Hallsville Police Department, Sturgeon Police Department,
Boone Hospital Ambulance Service and University Hospital Ambulance
Service. In addition, PSJC also provides assistance to other public
safety agencies in our area.
 
An emergency is any situation requiring an immediate response such as a
fire, a crime in progress, a need for an ambulance or any
life-threatening activity. Many calls that come into the 9-1-1
operations center are considered non-emergencies.
 
“Citizens may have a situation that needs attention, but not
immediately, such as a car break-in, items that have been stolen or
other crimes not in progress,” Schwartze says. If a citizen has a
non-emergency situation and would like a response from a public safety
entity, they can call the non-emergency number (573) 442-6131. Schwartze
continues to stress that 9-1-1 is to be used only in life-threatening
situations and not for directory assistance, to contact a specific law
enforcement officer, to ask for directions or to complain about a parked
car. 
 
As part of “National Telecommunications Week,” the 9-1-1 Operations
Center will be open to the public on Wednesday, April 14, from 1–3 p.m.
The community is invited to tour the facility, meet with operators and
learn more about their 9-1-1 emergency services. 
 
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Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/

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