MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County 911 center is preparing for a leadership transition while continuing technology upgrades and regular operations.
Director Laura Webster will officially hand over the reins to incoming Director Rick Lanuza at the end of July. Lanuzza, who began his transition on May 18, has been actively engaging with staff and community outreach alongside Webster during the transition.
Webster reported the call volume to Knox County 911 remains steady, with Friday afternoon being the busiest period for both 911 and nonemergency calls.
The dispatch center has received 162 attempted suicide calls this year, with the calls ranging in severity. 911 received 326 calls in 2025.
Lanuzza noted mental health calls are extremely elevated at 330; however, one individual accounts for 259.
Staffing stands at 21 full-time and one part-time dispatcher, slightly below the center’s optimal range of around 24 combined full- and part-time personnel.
Dispatch Supervisor Rhonda Owens earned the Excellence in Dispatch certificate from the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), one of 15 telecommunicators in the state of Ohio to achieve that goal.
She earned the certification by completing a structured track of professional development courses.
911 staff attended a July 4 planning meeting hosted by Knox County EMA. Apple Valley, Fredericktown, and Mount Vernon are all holding Independence Day events on the same evening this year.
Operations center continues Next Gen roll out
Knox County is advancing its roll out of Next Generation 911 (NG911) in coordination with the state of Ohio’s network. The transition involves moving from analog copper phone lines to digital VoIPP.
State officials conducted a site visit on June 4, which included a detailed review process, equipment inspection, and IT coordination.
Webster said the upgrade will enable text-to-911 and video-to-911 capabilities, as well as improved interconnectivity with other participating dispatch centers across Ohio.
The workstation expansion project is nearing its end. The center is moving from five to seven call-taking stations.
According to County IT Director Trevor Ditmars, each station requires four computers for the dispatcher, with 16 displays per person.
