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Sheriff’s committee recommends independent 9-1-1 dispatch entity; commissioners asked to draft ordinance
Summary
A multi-agency committee recommended the county move dispatch to an independent PSAP overseen by a board and led by a 9-1-1 director; the sheriff asked commissioners to have legal draft an ordinance to effect the change.
Sheriff Mike Wilder told the Warrick County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 12 that a multi-agency committee recommends converting the county dispatch (PSAP) into an independent entity with a dedicated 9-1-1 director and a governing board made up primarily of first responders.
"We believe the best way going forward is to make it its own entity that would be ran by a 9-1-1 director," Sheriff Wilder said. The committee — which included fire, EMS and law-enforcement leaders and a consultant — recommended the board consider an ordinance to create the entity, set an initial board composition and allow the director to oversee daily operations. The sheriff said the director position is already budgeted and the committee will provide a draft ordinance and recommended initial board members.
County legal counsel asked to review the consultant’s draft and work with the sheriff and other attorneys to prepare an ordinance for the commissioners’ consideration within the coming weeks. Sheriff Wilder said the change would be timed with infrastructure moves and budgeting; he said the committee preferred a governing board made up of 51% law enforcement as required by state statute.
What happens next: The commissioners asked legal to work with the sheriff and provide an ordinance draft and recommended board appointments for review at a future meeting. No final ordinance vote was held on Jan. 12.
