New emergency dispatch center in Ottawa County

MIAMI, Okla. (KOAM) -- The Quapaw Nation and Ottawa County cut the ribbon for their new collaborative dispatch center in Miami.

The technology used at this new dispatch center allows for video calls, text message, and sending photos of the emergency.

Taryn Stoelzing is a telecommunicator at the new dispatch center and says the new dispatch utilizes silent chat for emergencies where someone needs to stay quiet.

"We can also message back and forth a silent chat so it won't make their phone or anything go off”, said Taryn Stoelzing.

Stoelzing also says the new system they use addresses language barriers by translating.

Valerie Barger, the telecommunication director says that faster response times will  allow them to help more people.

This collaborative dispatch project between tribal, city, and county governments is the first one in Northeast Oklahoma.

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