10.6.21 — Neshoba Democrat
By STEVE SWOGETINSKY
Emergency response times will be faster when the county’s 911 dispatch center starts taking calls, Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons says.
The switch could come toward the end of the year after the Neshoba County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved an inter-local agreement. Under the agreement, the city will pay the county $138,000 per year, or $11,500 per month for Neshoba County Communications to dispatch calls.
“This is still in the planning stages and it will take getting used to,” Lyons said. “We expect a few hiccups. But once we get the kinks worked out, it will be one of the best things we have ever done.”
“If Communications received a 911 call for us, they would take the information, and contact our dispatcher,” Lyons said. “Then the PD dispatcher would call the Philadelphia officer and repeat the information. This takes time.
“When the change comes, Communications would be able to dispatch our officers to that call without having to transfer. That will save a lot of time in getting the officer dispatched to that call for assistance with the emergency.”
The Police Department has seven dispatchers. Lyons said they can apply to become a dispatcher for the county, or they can remain with the PD taking care of other day-to-day duties.
“We have two or three who are getting ready to retire,” Lyons said. “The four or five we have left will be doing daytime things here, answering the phone and handling walk-in business. They work on affidavits. They will be doing things they are doing now. In a nutshell, no one will be without a job, no one will be laid off.”
The Police Department building is located on Main Street next to City Hall. The doors are open 24/7 but Lyons said that could change.
“We are looking at closing the doors, maybe from midnight until 6 a.m.,” Lyons said. “Officers will still be in the building but we won’t have someone at the desk.
“We don’t usually have someone walk in at 4 in the morning,” Lyons said. “It is rare that happens. Anyone who needs to talk to an officer can still call 601-656-2131. Maybe when we close, 2131 will ring at Communications. Officers will still be available.”
The department is in the process of switching to the Mississippi Wireless Information Network (MSWIN) radio system. The department plans to order the new equipment possibly this week. Lyons said the issue was to be discussed during Tuesday’s board of alderman meeting. If all goes as planned, Lyons said the police department could be connected by December.