(Photo) – Deedra Molotsky, left, Communications Manager for the Brownwood Police Department, shows Brownwood City Manager Emily Crawford and Police Chief Ed Kading some of the new work consoles and furniture recently installed to upgrade the 911 Dispatch Center at the Law Enforcement Center.
The 911 Dispatch Center has received new wiring, new consoles, new furniture and new carpet. A few days ago, dispatch moved back into their normal operating location inside the Brown County Law Enforcement Center. Still to come, next year, will be installation of the new countywide radio system.
“We had electricians, we had carpet people, we had IT in here,” said Molotsky. The dispatch center was in a temporary location elsewhere in the building while the upgrades were made. The project totaled about $80,000, according to Assistant Police Chief James Fuller. Molotsky gave special recognition to dispatch employees Aaron McNeely, Charity Graves and Jonna Acosta who helped box, pack and move the old furnishings and old electronics. “I couldn’t have done it without them,” Molotsky said.
“The Council of Governments is where we get our 911 funds from. They have grants that we can apply for and that’s how we were able to get the furnishings. I believe the City also got a grant for the new carpet,” Molotsky said. She added that a dispatcher who does artwork added a special touch inside the dispatch center which was funded by the City of Early. The dispatch center handles calls for all Brown County law enforcement, fire and ambulance. There are 16 dispatchers who work in three shifts. Each shift has a supervisor.
“There’s a lot of training, a lot of training. It takes a full year to really learn and fully understand. There are different classes that we have to go to and every two years you have continuing education,” Molotsky said.
Photo Left to Right – PD Officer Steven Dekeratry, Police Chief Ed Kading, Brownwood City Manager Emily Crawford, Joe Rogers with West Central Texas Council of Governments, Communications Manager Deedra Molotsky, Tom Smith with West Central Texas Council of Governments and Patti Davis with the West Central Texas Council of Governments.