EXPANDED 911 SERVICE WOULD BENEFIT COUNTY

In times of emergency, most Cape Girardeau citizens think 911. This three-digit emergency phone number provides the quickest access to the police and fire departments.

With current technology, the 911 service is only available to residents of Cape Girardeau. But a newly-formed committee will study the possibility of expanding this emergency service to the rest of the county.

The final decision will rest with the voters, who will ultimately decide whether they want to pay for the service. But expansion of the 911 service seems a viable option. And since seconds count in an emergency, the savings could be measured in lives and property.

Updated 911 equipment would benefit all county residents, including those living in Cape Girardeau. That's because 911 technology has vastly improved since the city installed its equipment in the early 1970s.

In Cape, the 911 number today provides only a faster dialing mechanism for emergency calls. To locate where the call is being made, police have to put a trace on the line.

But new 911 technology would instantly display on a screen such information as the property's address and exact location, who lives at the property, any physical problems of the household, and a description of the property. That could save precious seconds in time of disaster or emergency.

Currently, if a person becomes incapacitated before giving a complete address on 911, authorities may find themselves helpless. The new system would provide that critical data instantly.

Cape's present 911 service is widely used. Police report an average of 50 to 60 911 calls a day. No doubt a county-wide service will also be in great demand.

The technology would automatically route residential and business calls to their appropriate law enforcement agency: Cape police, Jackson police, or sheriff's department.

Granted, the service will cost money. But divided among the thousands of county residents, the cost would be minimal, and could be added to their monthly phone bill. Exact costs will be determined before voters cast their ballots.

A change in the state 911 law made last year may also make the package more cost-effective for counties. The Missouri legislature eliminated some restrictions that prevented governmental bodies from charging for the service until the system went on line. Those up front costs proved too much of a burden for some cities and counties.

Implementing a county-wide 911 won't happen overnight. The committee which aptly involves all county law enforcement agencies plans to study the matter thoroughly. It also takes time to plan an election, and if approved, purchase and install the equipment. The entire process will probably take at least two years.

Expanding 911 service to the entire county with state-of-the art equipment seems an idea whose time has come.