Anoka, MN – Yesterday, Congressman Tom Emmer visited the Anoka County Emergency Communications Center. While there, Emmer met with emergency communications staff and members of the Anoka County Board of Commissioners and toured the communications center.
Photo credit: Anoka County
“Across the State of Minnesota, thousands of emergency communications staff work to coordinate the first responder efforts that keep our communities safe. Ensuring these talented dispatchers have access to the resources and training they need to help keep our communities safe is essential. Thank you to everyone at the Anoka County Emergency Communications Center for taking the time to meet with us,” Congressman Emmer said.
"Rep. Emmer has a busy schedule, and we were pleased he was able to take time out of his day to visit our Emergency Communications Center and talk with us about some of the issues facing 911 today,” said Kari Morrissey, department director of Anoka County Emergency Communications. “We had a productive conversation about Next Generation 9-1-1 and how technology is changing the role of public safety telecommunicators. We shared our vision for our new center and offered ideas about new positions that can better support public safety in the future. A highlight of the visit was when Rep. Emmer toured our ECC – he commended the work of our emergency telecommunicators, and he took time to speak with some of them.”
“We appreciate Rep. Emmer taking an interest in our 911 operation and spending time with Anoka County commissioners and county staff to learn about the successes of our dispatch center and how we’re continually looking to improve our emergency services," said Mike Gamache, chair, Anoka County Board of Commissioners. “911 is one of the backbone departments of our county, and we’re proud to highlight our dedicated and talented staff, whenever we get the opportunity.”
"Anoka County has a commitment to public safety, and Rep. Emmer got to see some of that firsthand when he spoke to our 911 leadership and toured our current facility,” said District 4 Anoka County Commissioner Scott Schulte, who serves as vice chair of the County’s Public Safety Committee. “He learned about the support we offer to our 911 staff, how we recruit, how the field of 911 is evolving, and about our new, state-of-the-art Emergency Communications Center, which will be operational soon.”
Dispatchers at the Anoka County Emergency Communications Department answer 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls for the more than 360,000 residents of Anoka County. They provide dispatch services for all 11 law enforcement agencies and 17 fire departments within the county. The department is also responsible for operating and maintaining the countywide 800 MHz public safety radio system, which is used by all county public safety officials.
The Anoka County Emergency Communications Department has been providing public safety communications services to the residents of Anoka County since 1974.
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