JOHNSON COUNTY — Over the last four years, one 911 center's director's idea has grown to help other dispatchers across the state.
911 dispatchers are among the first to know a crisis is unfolding — like the Greenwood Park Mall mass shooting.
PREVIOUS: Johnson County dispatchers still processing after Greenwood mass shooting
That tragedy, like many others, binds the trained telecommunicators who take the critical calls responding to emergencies.
"We have a tight knit group here in Indiana when it comes to 911 centers," Heath Brant, Johnson County 911 Executive Director, said.
In 2018, the death of three kids at a school bus stop led to 911 dispatchers in Fulton County receiving packages and letters from around the country.
Gail Karas, the 911 center director in Fulton County, created one caring tote. There are now four containers that are filled with snacks. The containers travel across the state to show dispatchers they are not alone.
In the past 18 moths, the tote has made 13 stops in 11 separate counties.
The most recent stop was in Madison County where dispatchers handled the calls following the death of Elwood Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz.
"There's a tragic incident that happens and they know how stressful it is on the dispatchers," Brant said. "This is just one way we can support each other."
Johnson County, which had the tote before Madison County, refilled it and made sure the tradition made it to its next destination.
-
Work starts to transform old Bloomington hospital site into affordable housing
The site of the hospital, now known as the Hopewell neighborhood, could feature as many as 175 new affordable housing units in its first phase.
Wayne Township Trustee’s Office faces rising demand amid budget strains
Wayne Township is seeing a dramatic rise in residents seeking help with school clothing and utility bills, forcing leaders to tap rainy-day funds as demand could grow ahead.
Your morning coffee is getting pricier: Here's what to expect at local shops
Coffee prices are on the rise due to a multitude of factors, and local stores and businesses are sharing what you should expect the next time you get your morning cup of Joe.
Four months into IHA improvement plan, residents want more progress
Indianapolis Housing Agency residents on the south side are questioning what the agency is doing to improve their living conditions four months after it released a 12-month improvement plan.
