New 911 standards bring changes to county

FREMONT - Following the suspension of a dispatch supervisor, the director of the Sandusky County Emergency Management Agency has begun overseeing the sheriff's 911 communication center and will implement new state guidelines to provide a more uniform approach to training and staffing.

The new state-mandated 911 regulations were going to be implemented in Sandusky County sometime this year, but when dispatch supervisor Adam Herrera was placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 4 it appeared to be a good time to begin making the changes, said Lisa Kuelling, Sandusky County EMA and dispatch center operations supervisor.

"Some people don't like change, but I think holding everyone to higher standard is a good thing," Kuelling said Tuesday. "We just need to get used to it. Accountability will be different."

Herrera was suspended after being named in a criminal investigation by Sheriff's Detective Capt. Zack Zender. Until the case is resolved, dispatcher Corey Hessick has been appointed interim supervisor of the dispatch center.

Kuelling said Sandusky County has been implementing the new regulations over the past two years, working ahead of the deadline for the statewide changes.

The biggest change coming to all departments is a requirement that two dispatchers certified in giving CPR instructions to emergency callers must be on duty on every shift, Kuelling said.

The new standards mean all dispatch centers in the state will have to meet specific requirements.

"Before the standards, dispatch centers were on their own on how they trained dispatchers," said Kuelling. "The new standards will be more uniform and have guidelines that each new dispatcher will have to train for a certain amount of time with specific supervisors. The state just wants to see that everyone is getting the same training."

Training for certification is administered by a Pennsylvania firm, lasts three days, and costs $625 per person.

For some dispatch centers in Ohio, having two certified dispatchers per shift will not be a problem. The Sandusky County Sheriff's Office for example, is ready to provide two certified dispatchers on each of three shifts.

But in Fremont and Clyde, where the police departments provide city dispatch, having two certified dispatchers per shift could pose a challenge.

"The sheriff's office has three on day shift and two on second and third shift. Fremont and Clyde have one dispatcher per shift," Kuelling said.

The EMA will provide funds and support for equipment and technology, Kuelling said, but the police departments will have to provide staffing from their individual city's budget.

"Police departments have to figure it out for themselves. We don't have any new money coming from the state," said Kuelling. "The days of old when a road deputy would come in and answer calls is over. The state wants to streamline training."

Because the training standards must be set in place this year, Kuelling said many small departments are being forced to consolidate because of the lack of funding or the ability to have two trained dispatchers on duty per shift.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: CraigShoupNH