Putnam 911 functions despite Verizon phone glitch

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Putnam 911 functions despite Verizon phone glitch

By TERRY CORCORAN

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: February 27, 2006)

CARMEL — A glitch in the Verizon telephone lines today has forced Putnam County to switch its 911 operations from the new Emergency Operations Center to the county Sheriff's Office.

The glitch is not affecting 911 service, said Adam Stiebeling, deputy commissioner of emergency services.

"It's transparent to anyone who calls 911," Stiebeling said. "Emergency services are still being dispatched and calls are being recorded through our CAD (computer-aided dispatch) system."

Under the county's back-up system, 911 calls are routed through the Sheriff's Office in the case of a malfunction. The Emergency Operations Center sent some of its dispatchers to the Sheriff's Office to assist with the calls, Stiebeling said.

The problem only appears to be affecting lines in the 225 exchange, which includes Carmel and Lake Carmel.

"We don't have a straight answer from Verizon on what caused the problem, but they've been notified and are working on it," he said.