TOULON – With an agreement in place between Peoria and Stark County, all of Illinois’ counties will have 911 emergency services.

The General Assembly tasked Illinois State Police in 2015 to establish 911 services in all 102 counties. Stark County was the last one.

ISP successfully completed the mission and held a press conference with their Director Brendan F. Kelly, joined by Illinois Statewide 911 Administrator Cindy Barbera-Brelle, Stark County Sheriff Steve Sloan, and Peoria-Stark Joint Emergency Telephone System Board Chairman David Tuttle.

“This is a significant milestone for ISP’s Division of Statewide 911 and the whole state,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.  “The agreement between these two counties means residents will see quicker response times as telecommunicators can get the appropriate first responders enroute sooner.” 

The agreement between Stark County and Peoria County will create a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board. Residents and travelers passing through Stark County can quickly call 911 if they need emergency services. 

“Stark County has finally reached the 21st Century with our 911,” said Stark County Sheriff Steven Sloan.  “We will have faster response time to get to a call and we will know where they are calling from.  Peoria County has been fantastic to work with, as they have so much knowledge on 911.  I believe Stark County residents will be thrilled with the 911.” 

Previously, Stark County residents called 10-digit phone numbers for the sheriff’s office or fire department in an emergency. Those who traveled through the county with an emergency had to be routed through other 911 systems delaying response times while location and circumstances were situated and relayed to appropriate parties. 

“Each county in Illinois now has a comprehensive and coordinated 911 system,” said ISP Statewide 911 Administrator Cindy Barbera-Brelle. “Illinois is continuing to migrate 911 systems to the State's Next Generation 911 network, which will provide increased services and better responses in an emergency.” 

Public Act 99-0006, effective since June 2015, established requirements to consolidate dispatch centers and mandate the delivery of 911 to unserved counties. From 2016 onwards, the ISP Statewide 911 Administrator, with the advice and recommendation of the Statewide 911 Advisory Board, has appropriated $47.5 million in grants to 911 systems across Illinois from the 911 Consolidation Award Grant Program to ensure enhanced 911 service throughout Illinois.     

“The partnership between Peoria and Stark County has been great,” said Peoria-Stark Joint Emergency Telephone System Board Chairperson David Tuttle.  “Peoria County is thrilled to bring the same level of 911 service to the citizens of Stark County.”    

Public Act 99-0006 also requires a statewide Next Generation 911 network to improve 911 emergency service to Illinois residents and travelers the state.      

Next Generation 911 is a system of IP-based networks, gateways, functional elements, and other databases that provide new ways to communicate. Those communication methods include texts, videos, and more to give first responders a “virtual on-scene” look at the situation they’re headed to and may proactively decide what resources are best to hand the issue. For travelers in Illinois, Next Generation 911 system’s ability to ping a more accurate location will be valuable as many unfamiliar with the area they’re traveling in won't know where they are.

There are 179 dispatch centers in Illinois, 158 have switched over to Next Generation 911, and 21 more will soon.   

 More information on the Division of Statewide 911 may be found on the ISP website.