Tuscola County Dispatcher Uses Smart911Chat to Save Domestic Violence Victim

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(CARO) — A Tuscola County Dispatcher was recently recognized for her outstanding efforts to aid an individual in need using Smart911, the county’s lifesaving 9-1-1 service proven to improve emergency response. Director Sandra Nielsen presented Dispatcher Amanda Berlin with a SmartSave Award. Amanda received a 9-1-1 call the weekend of April 23 and clearly heard arguing and screaming in the background. The caller hung up before an exact location could be determined and wouldn’t answer follow up calls. The victim did however respond with, “Yes, please send help” to Dispatcher Berlin’s outbound text. Berlin was then able to send first responders to the woman’s location and apprehend the suspect. Berlin says that Smart911 Chat allowed the victim to provide her exact location. Smart911 allows citizens to create a Safety Profile for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. According to Nielsen, the county implemented Smart911 less than a month ago and the added feature has better equipped dispatchers to rescue those who aren’t able to safely communicate over the phone.