Perryville 911 dispatchers working hard to be heard

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) – Perryville dispatchers are working hard to be heard, Shay Hicks is taking to making signs with residents looking to stop the proposal to outsource the dispatch.

“We’re going to be putting signs in high traffic areas, to bring as much awareness as possible to the citizens.”

After 20 years, Hicks is now a former Perry County dispatcher and resident of Perryville.

She and dispatchers in the city and county are rallying together to make yards signs, “We’re not a big operation, we just want enough supplies to let the citizens know that there’s an issue that they need to know about, and that they have a voice.”

The plan is to put signs along the highways, and high traffic areas, and then to get businesses and residential homes to place the signs in their yard.

Hicks says as a former dispatch veteran, she is extremely passionate for this cause, and she’s done her research.

“We have reached out to citizens in a neighboring county, that have outsourced 911, and they were frustrated,” said Hicks. “They said there were many times; delays in calls, and confusion in areas they were requesting assistance, and they were just regretful and they wish they had their local dispatch back.”