Parker Live News from the Parker Strip since 2009.
Solar project near Salome gets a green light
Earthquake felt in Parker Thursday morning AND Friday evening
Laws to be enforced by multiple agencies over 4th weekend
Where and when to see fireworks in Parker this holiday weekend
Murder-suicide in Ehrenberg
Deputy attacked on I-10
WATCH: The story behind the 'alligator' that made waves in Parker last weekend
VFW burns: "We're going to have to rebuild from the ground up"
Viewfinder: Big Bend Resort new store, eatery now open
Viewfinder: Parker at Dusk
Viewfinder: Judges Quickle and Dyer sworn in
To The Editor: Is this traffic light acting weird?
To The Editor: On Sandy Giles 'Cold Case'
To The Editor: River so low!
To The Editor: What's with this road to nowhere?
To The Editor: Does Parker hate tents?
To The Editor: Concerns over Buckskin Fire Board
To The Editor: Will police arrest clowns this weekend?
COLUMN: A Fallen Friend and Hero
COLUMN: Arizona just banned cellphones while driving. Here's why I've changed my mind on it
COLUMN: Reflections on Notre Dame
COLUMN: The desert is beautiful right now
COLUMN: A funny thing happened on my way to the new year
Things you may have missed: Parker Live in 2018
COLUMN: A 300-mile pilgrimage
New 911 dispatch center made out of reclaimed office space
John Wright March 29, 2018	1 Comment
These are the people you will talk to if you ever need to call 911 in the Parker area. And they have new digs, thanks to a decision to clear out an old outdated system of files at the Sheriff's headquarters in Parker, saving money and creating a larger space.
La Paz County Dispatch is the vital link between citizens and emergency responders, ensuring that emergency calls have a timely and accurate response, and that any member of the public who needs police, fire, ambulance or other assistance at the time of an emergency gets it.
The old dispatch center was small and crowded, according to Sheriff's Captain Curt Bagby. Dispatchers were working long hours in a small, poorly-lit space with the potential for low morale and other issues related to the cramped conditions. Bagby told Parker Live that there had years ago been a proposed plan to build a new center at a price tag of $900,000. But then a discovery offered a new possibility.
"We had this old system of files, every case that the Sheriff's Department has handled going back years," Bagby said. "We found out that in fact, we were keeping every document about every case, and we didn't need to. It turns out we only need a couple of the key documents from each case and we can get rid of the rest."
The old system, in which heavy wheels are used to move shelves for access, took up a whole room, according to Bagby. But with the finding that only a small fraction of the files needed to be kept, it opened up the possibility of using the room for a new dispatch center, saving the money that would have been needed to build one.
So, within the last month, cables were routed under special flooring, systems were reinstalled in the new location and the new dispatch center has now opened. It offers more space, better lighting, adjustable desks that can accommodate operators sitting or standing, larger screens for viewing the outside, and even a treadmill which will be added soon.
"People don't understand that morale is important," Bagby said. "You want people to be good with being in work and in a good frame of mind so they can serve the public."
Photos by Parker Live.
Sharon Champion
This is great these people have a very important job nice they have a nice work area to work in. Big thanks to who implemented this.
This website is owned and operated by KLPZ 1380am, located at 816 W 6th Street, Parker, AZ 85344. The Editor is John Wright. All logos, images and other proprietary content are copyright © Learn Broadcasting. Please use our contact form to get in touch.
Parker 425: Live Coverage