MECCA 9-1-1 is the primary Pubic Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for residents and occupants of Monongalia County. A PSAP is an agency charged with answering 9-1-1 calls and other calls for service, processing the information provided by the caller, and dispatching the appropriate emergency services response units.
Communications Center
The Communications Center (click here for pictures) is the heart of MECCA 9-1-1. This is the room where all telephones are all radio transmissions are completed, and other important public safety operations take place. There are six positions in the communications center for telecommunicators to work from. They are all outfitted with the same equipment:
- ANI/ALI Screen: The core of Enhanced, or E9-1-1, Automatic Number Identification/Automatic Location Information provides 9-1-1 telecommunicators with a caller’s phone number, name, and physical address. If the 9-1-1 call is wireless, the name and location of the cellular tower are displayed, along with an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless telephone).
- CAD Screen: Computer Aided Dispatch is utilized by 9-1-1 centers across the country and around the world to aid in processing calls and routing them to the proper dispatcher/agency, keeping track of emergency response units and their status, mapping/directions, 9-1-1 history, etc.
- Radio Screen: Allows telecommunicators to listen to or broadcast over any frequency MECCA 9-1-1 utilizes. Additional capabilities are the ability to simulcast (transmit over several different frequencies at the same time), broadcast alert tones and send pager tones used to alert fire and emergency medical service agencies.
- Teletype Screen: The computer system that allows telecommunicators to interface with state criminal record bureaus, NCIC (the National Criminal Information Center), III (the Intrastate Identification Index), and other databases. This allows our telecommunicators, acting on behalf of officers, to access an individual’s criminal record for criminal justice and processing purposes. Driver’s licenses, license plates, and other similar info is also checked through this system.