JACKSON, Tenn. – The City of Jackson’s Central Dispatch was awarded a $20,000 grant for training by Computer Aided Dispatch software resource vendor SUGA, Inc.

“This is very exciting for our department,” said LaNonda Jernigan. “This is the very first time we have been awarded outside of what is budgeted for dispatch and the generosity that Madison County Emergency 911 provides.”

According to Jernigan, Central Dispatch employees are required to have both State and Federal training yearly and every two years. The award will be used to continue their educational services and stay in compliance with audits pertaining to training.

“Our Central Dispatch is vital to our community and I am thrilled that the department was awarded the grant by SUGA,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “LaNonda and her staff are very deserving of the grant money that will go toward training to help better serve the citizens of Jackson.”

The Central Dispatch center answers the primary switchboard for the Jackson Police Department, monitors the target area cameras, houses a GEO mapping/CAD draftsman for updates, answers the primary PSAP 911 emergency lines plus additional non-emergency lines, dispatches police/fires services to the City of Jackson citizens, assist with other law enforcement agency elsewhere and fire departments when deemed necessary.

“There are quite a few individuals that really don't know what it takes to be a 911 operator or answer the calls from a distressed caller. The individuals at Central Dispatch Police, Fire & 911 Center are a class act and most definitely should be considered the ‘First Responder’,” said Jernigan. “They are definitely the first to hear it all before transferring the call to the dispatcher or the dispatcher sending a police unit or fire company to respond to the distressed caller.”

Visit our Central Dispatch Department page to learn more about the department.