It is not our intention to make anyone look bad with what is posted on this website. We do, however, believe it is our responsibility to ask hard questions, state facts and speculate, sometimes in a blunt manner, and pass on reports of problems for the sake of forcing changes to the 9-1-1 service for the safety and security for all who live in the East Kootenay Region.

Our goal is to have the 9-1-1 dispatch re-instituted in the East Kootenays OR at least, get all the problems repaired.

WE BELIEVE:

(We will refer to the 9-1-1 call centre as 'dispatch' in the following text)

1. The dispatch functioned adequately when it was located in Cranbrook.
2. The dispatch, currently located in Kelowna, does not provide a comparable quality of service to what we had prior to the relocation in late 2004.
3. We were told the amalgamation of the call centres would provide us with an equal, if not better, quality of service. It has not.
4. We were told the amalgamation would cost taxpayers less than what was being spent for the local dispatch. We have reasons to believe it has cost considerably more.
5. Tammy Ellis died while her roommate and a friend repeatedly called 9-1-1 and reached a recorded message each time.
6. Whether or not Tammy would still be alive, had the emergency services arrived sooner, the service provided by the dispatch on the evening of December 17th, 2007 was not acceptable.
7. People are still complaining about reaching the recorded message.
8. People are still complaining of being denied service.
9. Response times have been unreasonably excessive due to the dispatch operators lack of familiarity with our area as well as their inability to handle large volumes of callers quickly and efficiently.
10. The statements made by RCMP Staff Sergeant Troy Gross in March at the RDEK Board meeting regarding changes to staffing and procedures of the dispatch in Kelowna are not satisfactory. All the concerns with the service are not being remedied to an acceptable level that will ensure the East Kootenay Region will receive reliable and efficient service at all times.
11. We, the taxpayers and registered voters of the East Kootenays, did not want the dispatch moved to Kelowna.
12. From all appearances, we pay $108,000 per year for the dispatch and continue to not have a say in where it is located or how it is operated - and that is not acceptable.
13. The dispatch is to be re-instituted in Cranbrook for the sake of returning the confidence and security of having a 9-1-1 service that functions adequately in serving the entire East Kootenay Region.
14. We will accept the implementation of methods and restructuring to "fix" the problems. However, we do not believe enough will ever be done. Therefor, we would like the dispatch returned to Cranbrook.
15. We will not stop in our quest until we've reached our goal.

If you have any problems with content posted on this website, you are encouraged to email us at info@tammy911.com

This is a 100% not-for-profit project. Donations received go directly back into getting our 9-1-1 system's problems resolved. All the work, including the website, video and music production, are provided absolutely free of charge and are offered to anyone outside this project at no cost or royalty payment.