Copyright 2010, Sumner County, Kansas
DISCLAIMER: Sumner County Emergency Communications makes every attempt to maintain this website with accurate information. At times however, the
information presented here may become temporarily out-dated. The user should always check with the source of the information before using it in any official
capacity. Neither Sumner County, Kansas nor Sumner County Emergency Communications are responsible for out-dated information or the content of links
outside of this site.
information presented here may become temporarily out-dated. The user should always check with the source of the information before using it in any official
capacity. Neither Sumner County, Kansas nor Sumner County Emergency Communications are responsible for out-dated information or the content of links
outside of this site.
| Sumner County, Kansas |
Sumner County Emergency Communications
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Welcome to
Sumner County Emergency Communications
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| QuickLinks |
STAFF
James A. Reed, 911 Director
(620) 326-3398
John M Tracy, Asst. 911 Director
(620) 326-2884
Sandy Ray, TAC Officer
(620) 326-2884
Watch Supervisors
Marcie Bristor, Day Shift
Robert Patterson, Swing Shift
Bobby Antonich, Night Shift
James A. Reed, 911 Director
(620) 326-3398
John M Tracy, Asst. 911 Director
(620) 326-2884
Sandy Ray, TAC Officer
(620) 326-2884
Watch Supervisors
Marcie Bristor, Day Shift
Robert Patterson, Swing Shift
Bobby Antonich, Night Shift
| Other Info |
| For Responders |
| Learn CPR Contact your local fire department or EMS agency. |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below are some frequently asked questions received at 9-1-1. If there are any questions you
have not found here, please do not hesitate to contact Asst. Director Tracy.
have not found here, please do not hesitate to contact Asst. Director Tracy.
Q. Why do I get a different county when I call 9-1-1?
A. Telephone company boundaries do not necessarily match geographical or political boundaries.
Most Sumner County borders are configured so that calls are routed to Sumner County Emergency
Communications. There are some areas however that are not, and those calls go to dispatch
centers in adjoining counties. All counties surrounding Sumner County have the capabilities of
transferring those calls to our dispatch center and either do so, or process the call themselves and
notify us to dispatch responders. It would be nice if all areas of Sumner County were routed to our
dispatch center, but the cost of configuring the system to do so is too prohibitive.
Q. Why do I have to have an address? Won't my RFD work?
A. Physical addresses are needed to pinpoint your location. These addresses are stored in a
computer database, and sent to the dispatch center when you call 9-1-1. RFD only designates a
mail route, not a physical location. Addresses also allow visitors or those unfamiliar with the area
to give a location based on house numbers and street signs.
Q. Why does the dispatcher have to ask so many questions?
A. Dispatchers try to obtain as much information about the emergency to determine which
responders need to be sent and to prepare those responders for what they'll encounter once they
are on the scene. Standard Operating Guidelines dictate the nature of the questions they ask
depending upon call type. Even though the dispatcher is asking numerous questions, rest assured
that help is on the way and has been dispatched once the location and nature of the emergency
has been determined.
Q. Isn't it quicker just to call the sheriff, police, or fire department direct?
A. Without 9-1-1, you have to remember and dial seven digit numbers (sometimes eleven digit
numbers if you're calling long distance). 9-1-1 is nationally known and designated as the
emergency number so even visitors or travelers can use 9-1-1 to report incidents. Dispatchers can
also simultaneously dispatch police, fire, EMS, or Emergency Management with your single call to
9-1-1. Without 9-1-1, there are often delays in calling multiple agencies, and in the communication
between these agencies.
Q. When I called 9-1-1, my address was wrong in the computer. Why?
A. Changes in the computer database may take up to one week to be updated. If you've recently
moved or changed telephone numbers, the database may simply not be updated yet. When
changes are made to addresses or telephone service, your telephone company sends those
changes to AT&T who in turn, updates the database. There is always the potential for human error
when these data entries are made. This is why dispatchers always verify your location, and if the
address is wrong in the database, dispatchers will submit a report to the telephone company to
remedy the problem.
Q. Why do I call 9-1-1 even if its not an emergency?
A. Emergency Communications is responsible for dispatching police, fire, EMS, and Emergency
Management, whether those calls are emergencies or not. Any time you need someone to respond
to your house, emergency or not, you should dial 9-1-1.
Q. Why do I have to call 9-1-1 to report I will be having a controlled burn?
A. State law requires that when someone is going to set a controlled burn, they notify the local fire
department and the Sheriff's Departments to make them aware of the fire. Since 9-1-1 serves as
the central dispatch for all response agencies, you call 9-1-1 to report your controlled burn.
Q. I accidentally called 9-1-1, but even though I told the dispatcher everything was okay, the
police still came to my house.
A. Many times a crime victim will call 9-1-1, but be forced to hang up by a suspect or assailant.
Even though you report everything as okay, it could be someone trying to cover up a crime. Police
will still respond to see first hand, that you are safe.
Q. Why did it take 9-1-1 so long to come to my house?
A. First, 9-1-1 doesn't respond to calls. Public safety dispatchers staff a dispatch center that
receives calls, then dispatches the police, fire, and EMS units that respond to your call. Many
agencies cover large areas, and response times can be lengthy. Also, if units are busy with other
emergency calls, they must finish those calls before they can respond to yours. All calls are
dispatched immediately; if field units are busy, they themselves prioritize the calls according to the
level of the emergency.
A. Telephone company boundaries do not necessarily match geographical or political boundaries.
Most Sumner County borders are configured so that calls are routed to Sumner County Emergency
Communications. There are some areas however that are not, and those calls go to dispatch
centers in adjoining counties. All counties surrounding Sumner County have the capabilities of
transferring those calls to our dispatch center and either do so, or process the call themselves and
notify us to dispatch responders. It would be nice if all areas of Sumner County were routed to our
dispatch center, but the cost of configuring the system to do so is too prohibitive.
Q. Why do I have to have an address? Won't my RFD work?
A. Physical addresses are needed to pinpoint your location. These addresses are stored in a
computer database, and sent to the dispatch center when you call 9-1-1. RFD only designates a
mail route, not a physical location. Addresses also allow visitors or those unfamiliar with the area
to give a location based on house numbers and street signs.
Q. Why does the dispatcher have to ask so many questions?
A. Dispatchers try to obtain as much information about the emergency to determine which
responders need to be sent and to prepare those responders for what they'll encounter once they
are on the scene. Standard Operating Guidelines dictate the nature of the questions they ask
depending upon call type. Even though the dispatcher is asking numerous questions, rest assured
that help is on the way and has been dispatched once the location and nature of the emergency
has been determined.
Q. Isn't it quicker just to call the sheriff, police, or fire department direct?
A. Without 9-1-1, you have to remember and dial seven digit numbers (sometimes eleven digit
numbers if you're calling long distance). 9-1-1 is nationally known and designated as the
emergency number so even visitors or travelers can use 9-1-1 to report incidents. Dispatchers can
also simultaneously dispatch police, fire, EMS, or Emergency Management with your single call to
9-1-1. Without 9-1-1, there are often delays in calling multiple agencies, and in the communication
between these agencies.
Q. When I called 9-1-1, my address was wrong in the computer. Why?
A. Changes in the computer database may take up to one week to be updated. If you've recently
moved or changed telephone numbers, the database may simply not be updated yet. When
changes are made to addresses or telephone service, your telephone company sends those
changes to AT&T who in turn, updates the database. There is always the potential for human error
when these data entries are made. This is why dispatchers always verify your location, and if the
address is wrong in the database, dispatchers will submit a report to the telephone company to
remedy the problem.
Q. Why do I call 9-1-1 even if its not an emergency?
A. Emergency Communications is responsible for dispatching police, fire, EMS, and Emergency
Management, whether those calls are emergencies or not. Any time you need someone to respond
to your house, emergency or not, you should dial 9-1-1.
Q. Why do I have to call 9-1-1 to report I will be having a controlled burn?
A. State law requires that when someone is going to set a controlled burn, they notify the local fire
department and the Sheriff's Departments to make them aware of the fire. Since 9-1-1 serves as
the central dispatch for all response agencies, you call 9-1-1 to report your controlled burn.
Q. I accidentally called 9-1-1, but even though I told the dispatcher everything was okay, the
police still came to my house.
A. Many times a crime victim will call 9-1-1, but be forced to hang up by a suspect or assailant.
Even though you report everything as okay, it could be someone trying to cover up a crime. Police
will still respond to see first hand, that you are safe.
Q. Why did it take 9-1-1 so long to come to my house?
A. First, 9-1-1 doesn't respond to calls. Public safety dispatchers staff a dispatch center that
receives calls, then dispatches the police, fire, and EMS units that respond to your call. Many
agencies cover large areas, and response times can be lengthy. Also, if units are busy with other
emergency calls, they must finish those calls before they can respond to yours. All calls are
dispatched immediately; if field units are busy, they themselves prioritize the calls according to the
level of the emergency.