History of the ECC

How it Began

In 2006, community emergency response and elected officials initiated the concept of consolidating public safety dispatch services. The Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch Committee, a multi-jurisdictional group consisting primarily of public safety chiefs appointed by elected officials and the County Administrator, was formed in late 2006, guiding the process of the Charleston County Communications Feasibility Study. The feasibility study was completed in April of 2007 and indicated that consolidating all ten 9-1-1 and dispatch centers in the County was feasible, desirable, and would improve emergency response in Charleston County. The Committee then developed an intergovernmental agreement that was signed by all but one jurisdiction by the goal date of December 31, 2007. County Council approved and finalized the intergovernmental agreement at their meeting on January 22, 2008.

Multi-Year Plan

The following jurisdictions signed the agreement since they have a dispatch operation (or had a dispatch operation at the time of the Agreement):

  • Charleston County (EMS & Charleston County Sheriff's Office)
  • City of North Charleston
  • Town of Mount Pleasant
  • City of Isle of Palms
  • St. Johns Fire District
  • James Island Public Service District (PSD) Fire District
  • St. Andrews PSD Fire District
  • City of Charleston

NOTE: The City of Charleston was not an original participant in the agreement. However, participating jurisdictions approved the City of Charleston's request to join the Consolidated 9-1-1 Center during the Fall of 2009, and on December 15, 2009, Charleston City Council voted in favor of the addendum to the Intergovernmental Agreement adding the City of Charleston as a full participant in consolidated dispatch efforts. City of Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen and City of Charleston Fire Chief Karen Brack are full voting members of the Consolidated Dispatch Board.

Successful consolidation of 9-1-1 in Charleston County has led to improved emergency response times and increased communication and cooperation among emergency response agencies. With the improvement and implementation of technological advances, Charleston County has experienced improved situational awareness for our community, improved coordinated responses to emergency scenes and increased responder safety. Consolidation has also the center improve training and certification opportunities for dispatches and improve best practices as acknowledged through Accreditations received.

By January 2009, administrative joining of the Sheriff's Office and EMS 9-1-1 dispatch operations took place, officially forming the County's Consolidated 9-1-1 Center. One year later, the merging of call takers for the Sheriff's Office and EMS/Fire dispatch began and was a significant step in the consolidation process. The final consolidation step was completed in November 2013 with the transition of our final agencies to the newly constructed 9-1-1 center.