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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 31, 2008
CONTACT: Brooke Bohnenkamp, Public Information Officer, 605.773.3178
911 Coordination Board Established
Pierre, SD – Governor Mike Rounds is pleased to announce the establishment of South Dakota’s first 911 Coordination Board. The board is responsible for coordinating consistent and equal 911 emergency service for all South Dakotans.
Board members are appointed by Gov. Rounds and, by law, include representatives from the South Dakota Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO), the Dakota Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), telecommunication service providers, the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners, the South Dakota Municipal League, the South Dakota Police Chiefs Association, and the South Dakota Sheriffs Association.
Gov. Rounds appointed the following charter members of the board.
Doug Barthel, Sioux Falls Police Chief
Jason Bechtold, BonHommeCounty Sheriff
Jeff Carmon, Qwest
Dennis Falken, BrookingsCounty Commissioner
Bill Floyd, SullyCounty Commissioner
Marlene Haines, SD APCO President
Ted Rufledt, Jr., NENA, Dakota Chapter President
Jody Sawvell, Golden West Telecommunications
Lou Sebert, Mitchell Mayor
Tracy Turbak, WatertownCity Finance Officer
Kristi Turman, SD Department of Public Safety
“The establishment of this board is a very positive move forward for 911 service in South Dakota. In recent years, South Dakota has not had a central coordinating point to guarantee efficient and effective service,” said Secretary Tom Dravland, Department of Public Safety. “I’m looking forward to working with this group and seeing 911 service improve across the state.”
The 911 Coordination Board is the result of legislation passed during the 2008 session.
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