Centre Station

The 911 Centre Communications supports an immediate response to emergency calls received through the E 9-1-1 system. All of Rock Island County went on line with Enhanced 9-1-1 services January 31, 1990, the first in the State of Illinois. 911 Centre Communications opened March 4, 1999 and serves the Cities of East Moline and Moline, Illinois in the capacity of emergency dispatching for Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). All are direct dispatch through 911 Centre with the exception of EMS dispatch for the City of East Moline, when it is necessary to transfer or relay emergency requests to MEDCOM who dispatches Illini Ambulance.

Anticipating needs with the expanded use of cellular phones, all E 9-1-1 equipment was upgraded to CML Technologies telephone equipment and OSSI Computer Aided Dispatch software in March, 1999. This prepared the system to be ready to receive a 20-digit data signal that will be necessary for wireless (cellular) 9-1-1 calls.

911 Centre Communications radio system is an 800 Mhz Trunked radio service which is provided by RACOMM Corporation. There are towers serving the Quad City area in Moline, Milan, Davenport, Bettendorf, and LeClaire. This system is also used for the Police’s Mobile Data.

911 Centre Communications employees twenty people; 16 Dispatchers, 3 Lead Shift Dispatchers, and 1 Manager.

911 Centre Communications
Agencies Served by 911 Centre

East Moline Police Department Chief Victor Moreno 915 16th Avenue East Moline, Il 61244 Phone: 309-752-1555	Moline Police Department Chief: Kim Hankins 1640 6th Avenue Moline, Il 61265 Phone: 309-524-2230
East Moline Fire Department Chief: Robert DeFrance 915 16th Avenue East Moline, Il 61244 Phone: 309-752-1503	Moline Fire Department Chief: Ron Miller 1630 8th Avenue Moline, Il 61265 Phone: 309-524-2255

Guidelines For Non-Emergency Calls; When NOT to call 911

Destruction of property when damage is already completed.
Threat of non-imminent assault.
Reports of thefts already completed (not in progress).
Follow-up information on property crime.
Juvenile complaints not in progress.
Loitering but not causing a disturbance.
Animal disturbances.
Lost property.
Parking complaint not blocking right-of-way.
Sanitation complaint not in progress.
Abandoned automobile not suspected stolen.
Minor flooding or temporary power outages.
Telephone misuse unless threatening or a matter involving domestic violence.
Open hydrants unless causing a hazard.

Enhanced 911 - Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Enhanced 911?

E911 is a computer-aided emergency communication system. When a caller dials "911" the call is automatically routed to the nearest answering center. At the same time, important information about the caller is transmitted to the center and displayed on a dispatcher's screen. This information includes the caller's name, address and telephone number, the names of the local providers of medical services and the local police and fire departments. This on-screen display makes Enhanced 911 an effective means of summoning help even when the caller is unfamiliar with their location, is unable to speak, or the emergency call is disconnected before they can explain the emergency to police. It is still important however to stay on the line to verify location and other pertinent information with the dispatcher.

Who Can Use The Enhanced 911 System?

All callers in Rock Island County are served by the E911 system.

How Do I Make A Call To The Enhanced 911 System?

You simply dial 911. The type of emergency system you are dialing into does not require that you use a letter to identify the type of system serving you.

Do I Have To Answer Many Questions If I Call?

You don't have to answer many questions but if you are able to speak, the dispatcher will want to verify information listed on their screen. The dispatcher will also want to know the nature of the emergency. There are certain emergencies in which the dispatcher will need to keep the caller on the line until responders arrive.

When Should I Make A Call To Enhanced 911?

In the event of an emergency that requires police, fire or medical assistance. Calls for information or assistance in routine matters should not be made to 911.

If I Dial "0" Can An Operator Connect Me To The Correct Answering Point?

No. You must dial 911 to be routed to the correct answering point in the system. The operator will connect you to a seven-digit number of the agency that serves you.

What Will Happen If A Telephone Cable Handling 911 Calls To An Answering Center Is Accidentally Damaged?

Your call will be automatically forwarded to another Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) who will take the information and relay it to the proper agency for dispatch.

Can 911 Calls Be Made From Cellular Or Mobile Telephones?

Emergency 911 calls will be handled according to the policies established by mobile or cellular telephone companies serving your area. It is very important to realize however that the dispatcher does not know where you are calling from, you must provide a location for the dispatcher when calling from a cellular telephone.

Where Does The Information Displayed On A Dispatcher's Screen Originate?

SBC/AMeritech has worked to compile an accurate address and telephone number for each of the approximately 430,000 phone lines in the county. The information travels over high-speed circuits and appears on the dispatcher's screen within approximately three seconds after the call is answered.

Does The Telephone Company Record Changes If A Resident Moves?

When an order for telephone service is completed, SBC/Ameritech’s database will be updated.

How Many Telephone Lines Are There In Rock Island County?

The last count was about 78,000 telephone lines in the county, however with the skyrocketing use of cell phones makes this count inaccurate.

What Will Happen If Many Calls Are Made To The Enhanced 911 System At The Same Time? Will The Answering Centers Give A Busy Signal?

The system is designed to handle large volumes of calls. If however, all lines to a public safety answering point are busy, calls would be routed to a back-up answering point. If all lines to the back-up answering point are in use, the caller would hear a busy signal. In this situation, the seven-digit telephone number of the local emergency service required should be called. Moline 309-797-0401, East Moline 309-752-1570

Citizen Service System