Dorchester County unveils new 911 center

CAMBRIDGE, Md. – This week, Dorchester County Emergency Services launched their brand new 911 center.

“The technology allows us to provide services better and more accurately,” said Nick Kovech, assistant chief of communications at Dorchester County Emergency Services.

With more people on their smart phones, the new 911 center uses unique technology that will give dispatchers the ability to spot where your phone is and get help faster.

“People with the Find My Phone app, the actually GPS technology from the cell phone is leveraged combined with what we’re getting from our cell phone towers will allow us to more accurately see your location,” said Kovech.

This new push is all part of the Next Generation 911 system that uses text messages to enhance emergency services.

“It gives the officers or the first responders a little information, a little heads up while their in route,” said Hurlock Police Chief Bruce Jones.

And, the new changes do not stop there.

“Also, just databases we have, people that need help in the county we can access them better if they have a special need or something,” said Kovech.

The new 911 center not only allows space for all this new technology, but also for some of the dispatchers who worked in less favorable conditions for years.

“At the same time, this job is incredibly stressful for dispatchers,” said Kovech.

“They now have a much more comfortable environment to work in,” said Kovech.

“The space we had was much smaller and it did not allow that ability with the technology being more advanced,” said the Director of Dorchester County Emergency Services, Evdokia Dozia Rahilly.

It is a new step people say will make an impact on the county for future generations.

“This facility allows us to better accommodate the future growth in our county and the services we’ll provide,” said Kovech.

According to Rahilly, people will be able to text 911 for help before the end of the year.

The new system will also let people send videos and even FaceTime to get help quicker.

Kovech says the county has been pushing to get this new technology for the past few years.

Dispatchers say the Next Generation 911 system will also allow them to use less equipment while improving their response times.