Mahoning commissioners put 911 center under sheriff's jurisdiction

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners voted this morning to place the operation of the county’s 911 center and the appointment of its emergency dispatchers under the jurisdiction of Sheriff Jerry Greene.

“We think public safety, which would be the sheriff’s department, would be a better fit to run a call dispatch center,” explained Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti.

“He would know more than we, as commissioners, about dispatching” emergency calls, she said of the sheriff, adding that the dispatchers’ jobs will be secure in the transition.

Although the commissioners are switching oversight of dispatching operations from themselves to the sheriff, Righetti said the commissioners and their 911 manager, Maggi McGee, will remain in charge of the center’s electronic equipment.

The change affects only the 911 center in the county administration building, and not the seven other 911 answering points located at, and supervised by, various local police departments, Righetti said.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com