Pierce County sheriff urges rapid fixes to 911 delays, says he may seek court remedy

Sheriff Ramsey Bennett told the Pierce County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7 that he is concerned about delays in 911 dispatching and that the sheriff’s office has not been notified promptly of deaths and severe injuries, which he said is required by state law. He presented a packet for the official record and asked the board to remedy the problem quickly, adding that he would seek a remedy in Pierce County Superior Court if the situation is not resolved.

The sheriff described response times “of three minutes or more” and said the notification lapse hampered law-enforcement duties. When Commissioner Troy Mattox asked whether the sheriff had staff available to process 911 calls immediately, Bennett replied his staff were ready “to take care of the people of Pierce County.”

E‑911 staffer Debra Tanner told commissioners she could retrieve CAD reports going back to before the county took over the 911 function and said the dispatch center has terminated an employee and posted flow charts for dispatchers; she said those changes have improved response. Commissioner Graham Raley asked whether the matter had been brought to the advisory 911 board; the sheriff said it had not, because that board is advisory only.

Chairman Neal Bennett said the board would move 911 operations under the county manager’s direction so the administration can address the problem. Sheriff Ramsey Bennett said he would give the board “appropriate time to take appropriate action” before pursuing legal options.

The exchange left the immediate course clear: county management will assume oversight of 911 operations and staff will produce dispatch performance reports requested by commissioners. The board did not adopt a formal corrective order during the meeting; Sheriff Bennett’s warning that he might file in Superior Court remains a possible next step.