The Pettis County Sheriff’s Department has made the initial move to joint communications.

Sheriff Brad Anders says all this means to you is now all calls for service are dispatched from a centralized location, and the number you will need to call for deputies to respond is (660) 826-8100.

Anders says the sheriff’s department’s phone number of (660) 827-0052 is still active “but we cannot dispatch police services from this number any longer.”

After 5 p.m., if you call the 0052 number, you will receive a message advising you to call the 8100 number for dispatch or 9-1-1 if it is an emergency. Once the sheriff’s department’s VOIP phone system is complete (two weeks from Wednesday, August 25), the 0052 number will automatically transfer to dispatch after 5 p.m.

Anders acknowledges “There will be bumps in the road, without a doubt. Bear with us as we complete this transition. The dispatchers at joint communications have already proven to be wonderful and extremely professional. I am confident this is going to be a benefit for all.”

Also, if you are needing to make a walk-in report after hours, call the 8100 number and a deputy still will be able to meet you at the Sheriff’s Office for in-person reporting 24/7.

Anders also says, “We are still working on our mobile CAD transfer, so as of now deputies are not receiving live updates in their patrol cars via their mobile data terminals. This is a brief throwback to pre-2000s, and undoubtedly a hassle for those who are young enough not to remember or experience dispatching prior to technological advances such as mobile data terminals. However, it will be short-lived and even better soon enough.”