Macon-Bibb gets new E-911 system; improves response times

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon-Bibb County’s first responders now have a quicker way to get to emergencies.

The county’s E-911 director says the new, $2 million system will help improve safety for both responders and the public.

There’s always excitement when there’s something new.

“Everything is integrated,” Cpl. Jeff Monroe with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said. “You would literally have to go to our radio room with dispatcher, then you would have to go through another part of the radio room to find out if it was stolen and if it’s reported stolen, we’d have to go to another radio room.”

Now the whole process has changed.

Sheriff David Davis and other Macon-Bibb leaders say the county’s new technology to help first responders is a game changer.

“It’s a wave of the future, and the future is here,” Davis said.

The system puts everything from paper to computer — addresses, floor plans, location history. Monroe says it’s a boost in efficiency.

“You could do everything from your car now. You don’t have to go to the office. There’s no paperwork involved,” Monroe said.

The county’s E-911 center started using the dispatch system in March. It’s able to show deputies and even fire crews how close they are to calls based on their vehicles’ locations.

E-911 director Donnie Self says the SPLOST upgrades will help lower response times.

“Really through the mapping systems. It’ll give them a detailed map on where they’re going; what location,” Self said.

“It brings a whole lot more efficiency to the game,” Davis said.

As dispatchers send calls to first responders, they’ll know right away where they need to go and how to address the situation.

“That’s every call that’s going on in the county right now. I could see every call,” Monroe said referring to a monitor in his squad car.

It’s a move leaders want to help keep the public and first responders safe.

The county plans on putting more computers with upgraded equipment inside emergency vehicles in the coming weeks.