The first person many Broome County residents talk to in an emergency situation could be less tired in the future under plans to return 911 dispatchers to a standard eight-hour day.

Gord Horne/ThinkStock
Gord Horne/ThinkStock
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Emergency Services officials have been working 12-hour shifts since 1999 when a lack of staffing forced additional hours on dispatchers.

Savings in the county budget over the past few years could return those workers to 8-hour days with the hiring of more staff.  It’s still up in the air what impact that move would have on days off or what dispatchers are being paid

Through grants and budget allocations, Broome has also been upgrading communications equipment and towers to better cover the county and eliminate radio dead spots.

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