TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Pike County is now home to a state-of-the-art 911 dispatch center that has been years in the making. 

“The thought was to consolidate and put together one 911 and dispatch center underneath the 911 district,” said Robert Wright, Executive Director for the Pike County Communications District.

The facility opened in July. Built with expansion in mind, it not only provides more space, but new and improved equipment and facilities.

“We have a kitchen now, we have bunk rooms, we have showers, so we could man this facility for an extended period of time in case of natural disaster or an event where we might need to have staffing permanently here,” Wright told TrojanVision.

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The 911 center emerged as a consolidation of three separate buildings. According to Wright, the combined manpower makes it more efficient for different agencies to respond to emergencies in the area.

“Thanks to the 911 board and the commission having the foresight to put these things together, I think that public safety in Pike County is in a much better place than it was a few years ago,” said Wright.

One added benefit that comes with the new facility is a consolidated radio system.

“We now get to listen to all the calls that are going on: City of Troy Police, City of Troy Fire, Pike County Sheriff, Brundidge PD,” said Chief George Beaudry, Troy University Police Department. “If it’s happening in Pike County in emergency services, we have access to it on the radio in real time.”

According to Beaudry, the radio system has not only helped foster communication between different agencies, but has also helped cut down response time.