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9-1-1 director reports staffing increases, shift change to 12-hour shifts and Motorola console upgrade
Summary
The county’s 9-1-1 director told commissioners the dispatch center now has 31 full-time dispatchers with more in training, plans to move to 12-hour platoon shifts on June 1 and will convert to Motorola 7500 consoles by mid-May.
The Lorain County 9-1-1 director briefed commissioners on March 20 about staffing, scheduling and equipment upgrades at the county's public-safety answering point (PSAP).
Why it matters: staffing levels and equipment at the PSAP directly affect emergency-response capacity across the county.
The director reported 31 full-time dispatchers and one in training, with three additional trainees set to start April 7. The stated staffing goal is 40 communications dispatchers organized into four platoons of roughly 10 each. To improve retention and work–life balance, the center plans to convert to 12-hour shifts beginning June 1, with two platoons on day shift and two on night shift; schedules will rotate so every other weekend becomes a three-day weekend.
On equipment, the director said the center is converting to Motorola 7500 consoles, with implementation expected beginning to mid-May.
The director characterized the staffing and scheduling changes as alignment with statewide PSAP trends intended to improve employee retention and operational stability. “Our goal is to get to 40 communications dispatchers,” the director said, describing the four-platoon staffing target and planned schedule changes.
Ending: Commissioners acknowledged the update and recorded an affirmative vote on the personnel summary sheet; staff will continue recruitment and training to reach the 40-dispatcher target.
