SO Substation

reporting from the Walton Sun:

WCSO taking care of sub-station staffing | wcso, care, staffing - Local News - WaltonSun.com


FYI: after asking specifically yesterday if the 267-2000 number was still valid for reporting traffic problems, I found myself driving from PCB on Highway 98 behind a driver I thought to be reckless and dangerous. He(I was able to see that it was a male) was in a pickup and blew through the red light at Inlet Beach doing about 65 mph..then, he weaved and drifted onto the shoulder and into the other lane...I stayed far enough behind (as did other cars) to avoid a disaster. I called 267-2000 to report him. I got the receptionist, who after listening to what I wanted to report, said she would transfer me to "dispatch". A woman answered at "dispatch" without identifying herself, listened for a second or two, and asked me to hold...after a minute or longer, the phone disconnected.

So, I guess they are having their problems at the annex. I just hope that guy did not wreck and hurt someone on Highway 331, he blasted through the intersection at 331, still weaving......

reporting from the Walton Sun:

WCSO taking care of sub-station staffing | wcso, care, staffing - Local News - WaltonSun.com


FYI: after asking specifically yesterday if the 267-2000 number was still valid for reporting traffic problems, I found myself driving from PCB on Highway 98 behind a driver I thought to be reckless and dangerous. He(I was able to see that it was a male) was in a pickup and blew through the red light at Inlet Beach doing about 65 mph..then, he weaved and drifted onto the shoulder and into the other lane...I stayed far enough behind (as did other cars) to avoid a disaster. I called 267-2000 to report him. I got the receptionist, who after listening to what I wanted to report, said she would transfer me to "dispatch". A woman answered at "dispatch" without identifying herself, listened for a second or two, and asked me to hold...after a minute or longer, the phone disconnected.

So, I guess they are having their problems at the annex. I just hope that guy did not wreck and hurt someone on Highway 331, he blasted through the intersection at 331, still weaving......

I always just dial 911 in these situations. I thought the State operated *FHP for reporting impaired drivers and traffic stuff in addition to the regular 911 system.

well, that's what I always thought too. But, I was told (by someone at the Annex) a couple of years ago that it did not work for Walton County, that the 267-2000 was quicker.

Apparently, now if we dial 911; it is answered by "dispatch" and still has to be forwarded to EOC...It is confusing, and none of it seems to get answered with any sense of urgency IMO.

and I really do wish that people in businesses or government offices would identify themselves as they answer a phone--no matter what office it is

well, that's what I always thought too. But, I was told (by someone at the Annex) a couple of years ago that it did not work for Walton County, that the 267-2000 was quicker.

Apparently, now if we dial 911; it is answered by "dispatch" and still has to be forwarded to EOC...It is confusing, and none of it seems to get answered with any sense of urgency IMO.

and I really do wish that people in businesses or government offices would identify themselves as they answer a phone--no matter what office it is

Not sure which direction it flows in, but I thought you dialed 911, the eoc answered, you tell them you need SO, they hit a button and you are talking to them. I am sure some dispatcher will jump in and lay it all out.

Not sure which direction it flows in, but I thought you dialed 911, the eoc answered, you tell them you need SO, they hit a button and you are talking to them. I am sure some dispatcher will jump in and lay it all out.

It would be nice to have some clarification. I tried with direct calls, but still get conflicting info.

It would be nice to have some clarification. I tried with direct calls, but still get conflicting info.

The best thing for service and the taxpayer would be to just have 911 answered in a central location and let them dispatch everyone. That way you do not have the call transfer stuff going on. It would save us some money removing the duplicated services. And one government entity would be responsible for things, reducing the tendency to assign blame.

The best thing for service and the taxpayer would be to just have 911 answered in a central location and let them dispatch everyone. That way you do not have the call transfer stuff going on. It would save us some money removing the duplicated services. And one government entity would be responsible for things, reducing the tendency to assign blame.

I totally agree and after considerable effort at clarification; I still haven't received an answer as to why it is not like this. I hope no one ever has a life and death emergency and they go through this answer/transfer/answer/hold/disconnect and someone is seriously hurt or killed...

I simply do not understand the administration model.

The best thing for service and the taxpayer would be to just have 911 answered in a central location and let them dispatch everyone. That way you do not have the call transfer stuff going on. It would save us some money removing the duplicated services. And one government entity would be responsible for things, reducing the tendency to assign blame.

At the SWCC meeting last night, Mike Adkinson expounded for about an hour and a half on his problems, solutions and visions for the Walton County Sheriff Office. Many issues were brought up and discussed and a great deal of valuable information disseminated. Too bad you weren't there to get the real "skinny". Too much was covered to break it down here. There are two items that stand out in my mind from the meeting, however.

The first is, we have a real drug problem and solving a case takes a lot of investigation and work before an arrest can be made in most cases.

The second is in regard to the 911 system. Sheriff Adkinson wants the 911 calls to come into a central location and ALL dispatching done from there. As it is now, calls are transferred to the appropriate agency. He wants this function to be part of the Sheriff's Department. He is right. It should be centralized. Also, every Deputy is a qualified "first responder" according to the Sheriff.

Many other questions were addressed such as trespass on the beach, excessive noise and personnel matters. You missed a fine presentation if you weren't there.

I always just dial 911 in these situations. I thought the State operated *FHP for reporting impaired drivers and traffic stuff in addition to the regular 911 system.

Yes they do, but the limited number of troopers in the area makes it difficult. I got in a wreck in PCB one time and it took the FHP trooper 2 hours to get there. I've always used 911 to report impaired drivers.

A centeralized dispatch is great but should not be run by the "SO" IMO. We had this when Mikes buddy was in the office of sheriff and it did not work then. They would dispatch the SO to a fire to make sure it was on fire before dispatching the FD and this happened very often. The same was true for other things.. I do not think the SO takeing over the Emergancy Responce in Walton County is very wise this makes one person with to much power.. There is a proposal for the next BCC meeting for this. I do not think the BCC should give up Emergancy Responce or the County Jail. What if mike does not get voted back in office and the new sheriff does not wont the Emergancy Responce or CJ and dumps it back on the BCC then more money will be spent to move these again..

A centeralized dispatch is great but should not be run by the "SO" IMO. We had this when Mikes buddy was in the office of sheriff and it did not work then. They would dispatch the SO to a fire to make sure it was on fire before dispatching the FD and this happened very often. The same was true for other things.. I do not think the SO takeing over the Emergancy Responce in Walton County is very wise this makes one person with to much power.. There is a proposal for the next BCC meeting for this. I do not think the BCC should give up Emergancy Responce or the County Jail. What if mike does not get voted back in office and the new sheriff does not wont the Emergancy Responce or CJ and dumps it back on the BCC then more money will be spent to move these again..

I guess there is no way to learn from the mistakes of the past and make the needed corrections to operate the place as many throughout the State of Florida do?

I guess there is no way to learn from the mistakes of the past and make the needed corrections to operate the place as many throughout the State of Florida do?

I see the need for consolidated Dispatching but I am not so sure giving Emergency Management back to the Sheriff is such a great idea. If the Sheriff and the BCC Chairman don't get along, real problems could be the result. While this probably is not a problem short-term, no one knows what will happen in the future.

Dispatch in one location is a great idea and i have allways belived that but it should not be run by one agency and should be it's own department that had a advisory board of the departments that use it to recommend changes. I think having a independent dispatch center will take our the problems of the past.

I see the need for consolidated Dispatching but I am not so sure giving Emergency Management back to the Sheriff is such a great idea. If the Sheriff and the BCC Chairman don't get along, real problems could be the result. While this probably is not a problem short-term, no one knows what will happen in the future.

You're making the assumption that emergency dispatch is political. It is not. It is up to everyone concerned to understand that it is beyond the political realm and those who are involved in delivering emergency and trauma care should make sure those supplying 911 dispatch and those paying for it understand this. If it is or has been political, someone should be removed from responsibility for its function. It can be located in any emergency entity, but it must be independent of oversight that is political to be effective.

Andy
Dispatch has been in the past political. When SWFD created their own dispatch it was politicized then also, with the Sheriff and the County having issues that they felt needed to be addressed. As for having independent oversight, if the politicians or their minions are involved in selecting the oversight, I think that it is political.

FF 2 what I was referring to is the fact that it should NOT be allowed to be politized. There are methods and ways to do this, including but not limited to a voluntary board of directors for all EMS services. The way it is now, time is being wasted during the "golden hour".

You're making the assumption that emergency dispatch is political. It is not. It is up to everyone concerned to understand that it is beyond the political realm and those who are involved in delivering emergency and trauma care should make sure those supplying 911 dispatch and those paying for it understand this. If it is or has been political, someone should be removed from responsibility for its function. It can be located in any emergency entity, but it must be independent of oversight that is political to be effective.

Andy, EVERYTHING is politics. As long as people operate government, politics will be involved.