(CHILLICOTHE, Mo.) Wanda Urton is learning how to do her job differently at the Chillicothe Police Department.
With recent changes in the county's 911 dispatch service, the police department is now handling all 911 calls in Livingston County, along with city emergencies calls.
"We're still going to have the same personnel, but as far as more calls, we are obviously going to be getting more and more calls," said Wanda Urton, Chillicothe Police Department dispatch.
"Basically we will be the communications center for Livingston County," said Rick Knouse, Chillicothe Chief of Police.
It's a change that came shortly after Livingston County shut down their jail a few months ago due to lack of funding.
And now, the county is no longer handling the 911 dispatch services and transferring the calls to the police department.
"We have people that come to the window just off of the street, we have phone calls, our daily phone calls, then we log everything that takes place, and also now we'll have the 911 calls," said Urton.
A shift in departments that comes with some upgrades.
"The nice part about it is, we'll have technology now, we'll have the Viper system, we'll have mapping, where before we just had maps. Now we have mapping and once we get used to that, I believe it will go pretty smoothly," said Knouse.
With all dispatch services now located at the police department, the Livingston County Sheriff's building will only remain open periodically.
"They have an administrative secretary over there that will be answering calls and dispatching a little bit during the day. Then they flip a switch, and we'll be receiving the calls and doing the dispatching for them," said Knouse.
Leaving dispatchers like Urton to handle the counties after hours calls, and all emergencies.
"If you call 911, you will get the same level of service that you've always had before," said Urton.
With the shift in services, six emergency 911 dispatchers from the county will soon be without a job.
They were officially notified of the changes on January 18, and will all be given a severance package.
With recent changes in the county's 911 dispatch service, the police department is now handling all 911 calls in Livingston County, along with city emergencies calls.
"We're still going to have the same personnel, but as far as more calls, we are obviously going to be getting more and more calls," said Wanda Urton, Chillicothe Police Department dispatch.
"Basically we will be the communications center for Livingston County," said Rick Knouse, Chillicothe Chief of Police.
It's a change that came shortly after Livingston County shut down their jail a few months ago due to lack of funding.
And now, the county is no longer handling the 911 dispatch services and transferring the calls to the police department.
"We have people that come to the window just off of the street, we have phone calls, our daily phone calls, then we log everything that takes place, and also now we'll have the 911 calls," said Urton.
A shift in departments that comes with some upgrades.
"The nice part about it is, we'll have technology now, we'll have the Viper system, we'll have mapping, where before we just had maps. Now we have mapping and once we get used to that, I believe it will go pretty smoothly," said Knouse.
With all dispatch services now located at the police department, the Livingston County Sheriff's building will only remain open periodically.
"They have an administrative secretary over there that will be answering calls and dispatching a little bit during the day. Then they flip a switch, and we'll be receiving the calls and doing the dispatching for them," said Knouse.
Leaving dispatchers like Urton to handle the counties after hours calls, and all emergencies.
"If you call 911, you will get the same level of service that you've always had before," said Urton.
With the shift in services, six emergency 911 dispatchers from the county will soon be without a job.
They were officially notified of the changes on January 18, and will all be given a severance package.
