911 Center helps save lives

Lenoir County’s 911 Center never closes for business because emergencies require 24-hour attention.

At any minute during the day or night, something unexpected can happen that needs medical or law enforcement response. The county’s 911 center at Rhodes Avenue works around the clock to ensure that the correct personnel respond to emergency and non-emergency calls.

Paige Johnson, Lenoir County 911 Center interim operations manager, said Friday that the center averages about 200 calls from the public each day. The center employs 18 employees who each work 12-hour shifts.

“I am very proud of all our employees,” Johnson said. “They do an excellent job.”

This week marked the one-year anniversary of Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Det. Rickie Allen Pearson Jr.’s death. Pearson, 29, was killed on April 8, 2009 in a shoot-out with a suspect who was hiding in the woods off Tick Bite Road near Grifton.

Jonathon Harrell, Lenoir County 911 Center employee, received the initial 911 call at about 10 p.m. April 7, 2009 from a caller that someone had parked a vehicle nearby and ran into the woods shooting a gun.

“I got the call and dispatched it to the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office,” Harrell said. “When they arrived on the scene, they advised us that someone was shooting at them.”

Harrell said the 911 Center worked closely with the sheriff’s office special response team to resolve the tense situation.

“We did what we could,” Harrell said. “Looking back now, it was a very sad day.”

Harrell said he works to help people in dire situations who call the 911 Center asking for help. He’s been on the job for nearly four years.

Those who want to work at the center undergo extensive training, which can last up to one year. Johnson also said the employees participate in online training and in-house training at least once a month.

The 911 Center recently received an upgrade to its computer software and telephone systems. Johnson said the longest serving employee has 13 years of experience.

“We get some regular callers but we treat every call as an emergency situation,” Johnson said. “When we first answer a call, we ask for the caller’s address, name, and problem they are experiencing.”

The center is designed to dispatch information to the Kinston Department of Public Safety, Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, Lenoir County EMS and non-emergency support personnel. Strict protocols are followed on each call from the public and there are at least four 911 Center employees on duty per shift.

Mapping software allows 911 Center employees to pinpoint exactly where distress calls originate from and dispatch the appropriate emergency responders. Johnson said the center’s average response time to dispatch responders to an emergency call after a call is first received is 90 seconds.

The Lenoir County commissioners recognized this week the 911 Center’s dedication to the community it serves. The commissioners proclaimed next week as Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week.

Johnson said the center will host several events for its employees during the week, expressing appreciation for their service. A public safety telecommunicator of the year will be selected and awarded a plaque of recognition as well.

Chris Lavender can be reached at 252-559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.