MOUNT VERNON — Knox County 911 logged fairly typical call volumes in June. The good news is that year-over-year data shows a downward trend in several areas.
The month-to-month overdose and drug-related calls are relatively consistent. However, yearly totals are well below 2018, the height of the opioid epidemic.
In 2018, 911 recorded 429 drug-related calls. In 2025, the number dropped to 72.
“It’s a good consistent drop. It goes to show that the policing and the mental-health aspect of the opiates, we’re getting a handle on it,” incoming 911 Operations Director Rick Lanuzza said.
Burglary, disturbance and domestic violence calls also remain consistent in June compared to previous months.
“Those numbers look to be about on par for where they would be for the end of the year, about average,” Lanuzza said.
However, disturbance calls have declined from nearly 2,500 in 2018 to 1,288 in 2025.
May data showed an extremely elevated number of mental health-related calls at 330; however, one individual placed 259 of the calls.
That elevated trend continued in June, with a year-to-date total of 679. That same individual accounts for 540 of the 679.
Adjusting for the high-volume caller, data shows mental-health calls dropped from 346 in 2024 to 310 in 2025.
Looking at adjusted numbers through June, 139 calls were mental health-related. If that holds true for the remainder of 2026, the department will handle roughly 278.
New call tracking for safety forces
New data tracking includes the number of emergency services (fire and EMS) and law enforcement calls across all agencies each month.
June recorded 2,775 law enforcement calls, with a monthly average around 2,714.
Safety calls totaled 1,018 for June. Lanuzza said a storm might account for a spike in calls in a specific month; otherwise, safety calls are fairly consistent month to month at slightly more than 1,000.
“It will be interesting to see historical data on that as we go,” he said.
The department recorded 1,768 emergency calls and 5,729 non-emergency calls in June. Operations Director Laura Webster said non-emergency calls include barking dogs, a business calling in about a shoplifter and other non life-threatening emergencies.
Nonemergency calls include calls made to 397-2222 (Mount Vernon Police Department) and 397-3333 (Knox County Sheriff’s Office).
Webster said when callers call those numbers and select 1 from the menu option (report a crime or speak to an officer), the call goes to 911. If the caller selects 2 (records), it goes to the respective agency.
Three dispatchers celebrate 10 years with 911
Webster presented three dispatchers — Stevie Betscher, Nick Thorton, and Ronda Owens — with a 10-year anniversary pin.
“These three were five of my original hires when I became director,” she said.
Five employees completed their Public Safety Telecommunicator class.
Current staffing includes 17 nonprobationary, three probationary and two part-time dispatchers. Lanuzza said around 24 staff members provides coverage for vacations, days off and emergencies.
In other business on July 14, the commissioners acknowledged Mount Vernon students Aiden Mast, Adi (Ash) Farrell, Lucy Hunsen and Dane Gunderson for earning the honor of laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier during their trip to Washington, D.C., in May.
They also approved awarding the bid to pave Danville-Amity Road to Small’s Asphalt Paving. Small’s bid was $272,457.30.
