Glade Valley Government 

CE Gardner Assures the Public that 9-1-1 Emergency Calls Are Answered Promptly & Efficieciently

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No Calls for Emergency Service Have Gone Unanswered . . . 

County Executive Jan Gardner held a press conference today to assure Frederick County citizens that calls to 9-1-1 are being answered promptly and professionally, resulting in efficient responses to emergency situations. Her budgetary investments in public safety have improved emergency services in the community.

“All calls are promptly and professionally answered. No calls for emergency services have gone unanswered,” commented Executive Gardner. “I am proud of our Emergency Communications team that is leading the way in the region and nation. Contrary to false information circulated recently, our staff provide excellent, efficient service during the most challenging of circumstances. I have expanded the staff and moved operations to a larger and more technologically advanced facility to meet the needs of our community.”

For five decades, Frederick County 9-1-1 emergency responders have been making connections between those who need assistance and those who can provide it. They provide rapid, life-saving instructions to callers before field emergency services arrive. Trained personal assist with the coordination of multiple response agencies on an everyday basis. They take all emergency calls and also answer non-emergency calls for all county agencies during off hours.

Earlier this year, a local media outlet incorrectly reported information about calls that went longer than established time standards without being answered. Upon review of the data, there was actually only one call in question that was answered beyond established time standards during a surge in activity with multiple 9-1-1 callers. Emergency Management Division Director Jack Markey corrected that information in a letter to the editor on June 9, 2018. In FY2018, staff responded to 93,033 9-1-1 calls and the average time to answer was 4 seconds.

One of the Strategic Goals County Executive Gardner established upon taking office was to rebuild and strengthen the county’s public safety capabilities. Comparing the current budget to the last budget of the prior administration, Executive Gardner has invested $2.7 million more in 9-1-1 emergency management. Staffing at the 9-1-1 call center has increased 39% with the addition of 19 new positions to handle calls. Other investments have been for training and professional certifications, upgrades and maintenance to the public safety radio network, and employee pay shift differentials to maintain 24 by 7 coverage at the call center.

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