Owensboro 911 Director Paul Nave says advancements in dispatch technology are helping first responders reach emergencies faster than ever before.
During a recent City Commission meeting, Nave outlined how Owensboro-Daviess County Central Dispatch supports multiple agencies daily, including City and County police, fire, school police, and animal control. He showed how calls are processed in real time, with emergency crews typically dispatched within about 40 seconds.
“While the dispatcher is still talking, the technology is already working for the caller,” Nave said. “There’s not a delay in fire or police getting there.”
Nave also explained why the County moved away from reverse-911 alerts. The system, once based on landlines, became less effective as residents shifted to mobile phones. Despite outreach efforts to get people to register cell numbers, few did.
“It wasn’t worth the cost to taxpayers to keep something that wasn’t viable,” Nave said.
Instead, dispatchers now rely on a network of three communication towers, an 800-megahertz radio system and 27 sirens across the city. Those tools allow them to connect with law enforcement, fire, schools, utilities and even air medical services within seconds.
Nave highlighted other technologies in use, including:
- Text-to-911, which has been available locally for nearly a decade and has aided domestic violence victims, hearing-impaired residents, and even passengers reporting impaired drivers.
- Smart911, which allows residents to create profiles with medical details, addresses, or vehicle information that appear immediately when calling.
- What3Words, a GPS-based tool that can pinpoint a caller’s location to a 10-by-10-foot square, crucial for trail rescues or incidents in remote areas.
He said mapping is critical, especially since city and county boundaries often overlap. Dispatchers are trained to triage calls and use GIS tools to ensure the right agency is sent.
The director also shared how data helps in searches, such as alerting firefighters to nearby pools when a child is reported missing.
“We’ve saved lives by telling responders to check water first,” Nave said.
Last year, dispatchers handled more than 14,000 medical-related 911 calls, though only a fraction required fire department response. Nave said the volume fluctuates with weather events and community incidents.
He closed by praising his staff and noting the importance of ongoing federal support.
“No one knows what day you’ll have to call 911,” Nave said. “But when you do, we’re here for you.”
