Four of the law enforcement agencies are full time departments and six are part time departments. Of the 10 emergency medical services, nine are volunteers and one is full time. One full time department and 17 volunteer departments provide fire services for the county. During 2000 the communications center answered 26169 total 911 calls. 9019 of these calls were from cellular customers.
Cellular service is a rapidly growing industry.
The communications center dispatched 27337 requests for emergency and non-emergency service. Each request requires a minimum of one dispatch. Multiple dispatches are needed to insure that the correct level of service is provided. Often, additional assistance is needed from wrecker services, utility companies, Galesburg Street Department, Illinois Department of Transportation, National Weather Service, Air Medical Response, Emergency Management, and The American Red Cross. The public safety community maintains a close working relationship with all of these services.