[Scan-DC] MOGO 9-1-1 Service Interruption

[Alan Henney]

      DEPARTMENT OF POLICE

      MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION

      2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD    ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND   20850-3294

      For Immediate Release
              For More Information:

      December 17, 2007

Update     Update     Update     Update

Montgomery County ECC Continues to Evaluate Partial

9-1-1 Service Interruption

Supervisors at the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center
(ECC) along with Verizon technicians are evaluating the circumstances
that lead to a partial 9-1-1 service interruption yesterday, December
16, between 10:38 a.m. and 1:28 p.m.

There was never a disruption to calls coming in on the police
non-emergency line at 301-279-8000, and during the above time period,
some 9-1-1 calls continued to be received and emergency services were
rendered.  Once the partial service interruption was verified,
citizens were advised via local media outlets and the Alert Montgomery
system to call the police non-emergency line or go to their nearest
Fire or Police Station for assistance if they had any difficulty
calling 9-1-1.

Verizon and the County are currently conducting an investigation into
the root cause of the interruption.  Calls coming to the ECC are
routed through multiple Verizon facilities.  There was a service
interruption at one of those facilities.  It was also learned that
there was a problem in a back-up line at the Emergency Communications
Center.  Both of those problems have been corrected.  It is not known
at this time how many calls were affected.  No one has contacted the
Montgomery County Police Department to say that emergency service
needed was not received yesterday.  There has been no service
difficulty since 1:28 p.m. yesterday.

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