Houston County Emergency Response - County Gets Crumbs

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
13347901729
Date: Sep 19 2021 3:00 AM

HOUSTON COUNTY:    In Houston County there is 582 square miles.

Of the 582 square miles, 90 of those square miles are in the corporate city limits of Dothan Alabama.

That means there are 492 square miles outside the corporate city limits of Dothan.

Houston County has several incorporated city limits. Those are:

TAYLOR: - 7.31 square miles; has a police department but no officers on duty 24/7, has a volunteer fire department which is a 501 ( c ) ( 3) which the Town of Taylor has no authority over.

REHOBETH: - 7.52 square miles; has no law enforcement agency. Has just taken Rehobeth Fire - EMS under the Town of Rehobeth.

MADRID: - 1.745 square miles; has no law enforcement; the fire department is a stand alone volunteer fire department which is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ).

COTTONWOOD: - 5.8 square miles; has law enforcement agency but no officers on duty 24/7. The Volunteer Fire Department/extremely low paid if respond, is under the City of Cottonwood and operates under the command of the Cottonwood Fire Chief. Cottonwood Ambulance and EMS is a separate 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) stand alone entity. The Town of Cottonwood cuts the grass for Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue and the water bill only.

AVON:  2.37 square miles; has no law enforcement; has no fire department or EMS.

COWARTS:   7.72 square miles. Just recently entered into a partnership agreement with the Town of Webb for police coverage and city ordinance coverage. Has a fire department, paid, that is a part of the City of Cowarts government.

ASHFORD:   6.62 square miles. Has full time law enforcement officers 24/7, which are dispatched by Houston County Sheriff 911 Center.

GORDON:   2.919 square miles. Has one full time law enforcement officer which are dispatched by the Houston County Sheriff 911 Center.. Has a volunteer 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) fire department which is not a part of the Town of Gordon.

WEBB:   11.26 square miles. Has a full time police department but unless recently changed the officers are not 24/7. Has just entered into a law enforcement partnership with Town of Webb for officers to handle law enforcement calls in both Webb and Kinsey.

COLUMBIA:   4 square miles. Has a full time police department but not on duty 24/7. Has a fire department of which is part of the City of Columbia. Has a EMS department. Not sure if a stand alone entity or part of the City of Columbia.

KINSEY:     12.12 square miles. Has full time police department but not on duty 24/7. Has a fire department which is separate from the Town of Kinsey and is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ).

HOUSTON COUNTY has 430 square miles if you deduct all municipalities.

All felonies in Houston County, with exception of the 90 square miles of Dothan, Houston County Sheriff Department handles. With that in mind, Houston County Sheriff Department has a primary responsibility of 520 square miles.

JANUARY 1 to AUGUST 31, 2021

EMS CALLS DISPATCHED IN THAT 520 SQUARE MILES

Ashford EMS:     1,128 Calls

Columbia EMS:      320 Calls

Cottonwood EMS:   613 Calls

Headland EMS:       191 Calls

Pilcher's - County:   963 Calls

Rehobeth EMS:        635 Calls

Wicksburg EMS:       485 Calls

TOTAL 2021 CALLS: 3,468 Calls Dispatched

THE CITY OF DOTHAN and APPARENTLY 

CITY OF DOTHAN-HOUSTON COUNTY

COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT ( 911 )

AND/OR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT

Apparently the City of Dothan, the City of Dothan-Houston County Communications District ( 911 ) and not sure if Houston County Sheriff IT does not trust Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management and the agencies providing emergency services throughout the county.

In the past, via Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management, was able to provide report data for the EMS units making the calls in Houston County. For almost a year CAD Access was taken from Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management. And now they are unable to run reports to help the EMS agencies and fire departments in this county with data needed to measure performance, service, response time.

The City of Dothan has the majority members on the 911 Board so whatever they want they get. 

Once the Emergency Management was Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management and equipment and data systems were provided. But when Dothan hired the Dollar General or Dollar Tree Information Technology manager with no Emergency System experience, items were removed. But what the heck does he really care because he lives in Florida.

MOBILE DATA TERMINALS

When Dothan 911 or Houston County 911 takes a call, especially a medical call, the person reporting is kept on the phone until the ambulance arrives on the scene. As the 911 operator is talking to the person reporting, that 911 operator is constantly adding that data into the call.

Dothan Fire Department has MOBILE DATA TERMINALS  in the fire department vehicles and are able to read the material added so that when they arrive on the scene they are completely up to date.

The City of Headland provides their ambulances with the same Mobile Data Terminals for information which comes into their 911 Center in Headland. They do not include those calls that Headland answers in Kinsey.

It has been mentioned about Mobile Data Terminals being in the ambulances in Houston County. While I have not been told directly, hearsay, the 911 Director, Pam Lowe, said they would not be placed in the county EMS ambulances. It is reported that Lowe said the county did not need that information.

Well, first if Pam Lowe remained in her lane she has no input in the matter. The Board makes the decision and in all fairness the item has not been placed on the agenda yet, but it is forthcoming.

Reports ( hearsay ) to me, is 911 Director Pam Lowe said there was information the county EMS did not need to see. Again, Pam Lowe has problems remaining in her lane.

If the EMS has the ability to look at a patients unclothed body while treating them, what in sam hill is there they should not see of the 911 call when responding?

There is a difference in the way the county EMS, Fire and Emergency Management is treated verses the Dothan EMS, Fire and their acting Emergency Management.

The Emergency Management is suppose to be Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management. Combined in the $ 5 million dollar co-located 911 Center. Should be joint, they just house in the building. And Houston County has to pay the 911 board $ 108,000.00 to be in the building. A waste.

But the county EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement and Emergency Management are treated like vagrants while the City of Dothan is treated like royalty.

Recently Dothan Police Chief Will Benny is the Chairman of the City of Dothan - Houston County Communications District Board. And hopefully the county will raise above vagrant status and be able to be provided the same tools as those operating in the City of Dothan.

And whoever is attempting to undermine the Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management and it's operation in the $ 5 million dollar constructed Joint Operations Center will have their heads removed from between their buttocks and do what is right and best for all 582 square miles of Houston County.

I WENT TO DOTHAN MAYOR MARK SALIBA OVER THIS

I am passionate about emergency services. And the citizens of Houston County which do not reside in the city limits of Dothan deserve the same tools and operations as those who live in the City Limits of Dothan.

My passion is emergency services. And I have been cussed about my passion, fought about my passion. I have a strong belief that anyone who calls 911 deserves prompt, professional, dependable and nearest services.

After three attempts to make a change, I pitched a temper tantrum and my language was not good. And Houston County Commissioner of District Three Ricky Herring called my preacher who in turn called me.

I loved my pastor, currently love my pastor and have nothing but respect for my pastor. He is my former pastor which is 100%  credited to D-3 Commissioner Ricky Herring. Still do not know why he felt the need to call the Pastor. While I love the pastor, the ONE who matters, Jesus, knew I was going to do it before I did.

But the City of Dothan - Houston County Communications District now does what I fought for. And that is the nearest emergency provider is dispatched along with the resources to handle the emergency situation as presented to the 911 dispatcher.

But when you step on toes they get their egos hurt, their feelings hurt, and procrastinate in the emergency services to save lives.

One official told me when I pitched a fit of it taking over 30 minutes to get help and you could hear the lady take her last breath on the 911 call, well she would have died anyway.

AHHH . so some dummy officials thinks they possess the power to know if a person is going to live or die.

My philosophy is, you fight with all your energy to save a life until GOD makes the final choice. And a comedy of errors by emergency providers is not the choice.

Got great confidence in Dothan Police Chief Will Benny in his leadership as he takes over the Chairmanship of the City of Dothan-Houston County 911 Board. And great confidence that Pam Lowe will be kept in her lane.

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