911 calls

Live blog: April 2 municipal elections

Scott Pham — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:06:46 +0000

Voters today went to the polls to decide municipal elections across the state. KBIA reporters are in the field and following races in Columbia and Jefferson city. Check this live blog regularly to get results and pictures from watch parties.

Polls are closed, but you can check out our Columbia voter's guide here. The rest of our election coverage is here.

The latest numbers for Boone County votes are available here. Cole County voters can check on the results here.

Boone County: 130 calls to 911 each month unanswered for more than 60 seconds

Olga Khrustaleva — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:56:15 +0000

On April 2, Boone County residents vote on whether the county should increase its sales tax to fund improvements to its 911 dispatch center.

Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill said there haven’t been any major changes to the center since 1990s. Currently in Boone County, 130 calls each month take more than 60 seconds to answer, while industry standard dictates that most calls are processed within 15 seconds.

Columbia City Manager Mike Matthes said the joint communications and 911 dispatch center needs to keep up with Boone County’s growing population.

Why local advocates are rallying to support Missouri's 911 Good Samaritan bill

Harum Helmy and Alexandra Olgin — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:34:47 +0000

A recent study by researchers at Chicago’s Roosevelt University found that between 2007 and 2011, the number of deaths from heroin overdose in the state of Missouri more than tripled. In 2007, fewer than 70 people died from heroin overdose. In 2011, that number ballooned to 244.

Studies show most accidental overdoses happen in the presence of others. KBIA’s Alexandra Olgin takes us to a rally in Jefferson City on Tuesday supports a bill that could encourage overdose witnesses to be a Good Samaritan and call 911.

Kids playing with cellphones called problematic

Associated Press — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:21:21 +0000

The 911 Services administrator for Stoddard County in southeast Missouri is calling attention to a growing problem of children playing with discarded cellphones and accidentally calling 911.

The Dexter Daily Statesman reports that Carol Moreland says parents are apparently unaware that dialing random numbers from a cellphone or landline phone will eventually reach the 911 dispatch center, causing a distraction for dispatchers and emergency personnel.

Boone County to upgrade 911 operation centers

Nick Chabarria — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:49:08 +0000

Residents can soon expect some changes to how Boone County handles 9-1-1 calls.

Mo. Senate panel backs 911 tracking on cellphones

Associated Press — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:55:22 +0000

Phone companies would have to help Missouri law enforcement agencies locate cellphone callers in emergency situations, under legislation moving through the state Senate.

Understanding Amber Alerts

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:44:11 +0000

Friday is National Amber Alert Day. Law enforcement officials across the nation are recognizing the importance of the Amber Alert System, which is a high-speed, high-tech way of alerting the public when a child has been abducted. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there’s been some misunderstanding about the criteria that must be met before the alert can go out.