The future is now for a local agency in charge of emergency response.
Next Generation 9-1-1 was first introduced by CENCOM three years ago, and now its Coordinator, Tony Harris, says they must become compliant with Next Generation 9-1-1 standards thanks to legislation from Springfield.
Harris sees the need for a more interactive 9-1-1 as the world shifts to a more digital time. He indicates anything from a picture or video sent to 9-1-1 could be used to report emergencies or even criminal activity.
The first step for DeWitt County to become Next Generation 9-1-1 compliant would be to purchase a new radio console. Harris plans on sharing the new console with the Piatt County 9-1-1 center.
An exact cost for the Next Generation 9-1-1 system is not exact yet but Harris projects it to be very expensive. He hopes they can get the cost down by sharing equipment with Piatt County.