Paul A Brewer My Law enforcement career
I began my career in Law enforcement in 1972 as a reserve officer for the Waterloo Police Department where I performed volunteer work and also covered some shifts on a part-time basis. When I lost my full time job with International Harvester in Fort Wayne due to lay offs, I then joined the Waterloo Police Department as a full time officer in 1981. I graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1982 and continued my employment with them until May of 1985 when I learned of an opening at the Sheriff’s Department for a Dispatcher. I applied for the position and was hired on as a full time employee working in the old Jail. My duties there included both Dispatching and working with the inmates of the facility. When the new Jail opened in October of 1981, I began to work in Communications only and was appointed as the Supervisor and the IDACS Coordinator for the Department. In 1990 I began working with Richard Ring who was then the EMS Director and who was responsible for getting a County wide, Enhanced 9-1-1 system. On July 1, 1991 when the new Enhanced 9-1-1 system came on line, I became the 9-1-1 Director for the County where I am currently employed although I no longer supervise any of the personnel. My office is located in the Administration area of the DeKalb County Jail.
Some of my duties include working with the personnel in the three (3) dispatch centers in the County. They are located at the Sheriff’s Department, the Auburn Police Department and the Garrett Police Department. I maintain their 9-1-1 equipment and working on improvements to the system. I also work with the Telephone providers both wire and wireless that provide services to the customers of DeKalb County to ensure that the information we receive on a 9-1-1 call is correct. I also work with the Addressing Authorities for the County and Cities if needed, as a proper address is a major part of a timely response to any call for service. Currently I am working with the City/County GIS Departments to incorporate their maps into the 9-1-1 system. With the GIS information we will have a map display at the call takers position along with the 9-1-1 information that will show us where the call is originating. The mapping will work for both wire and wireless calls, however, the wireless capability is still being developed and not all carriers have deployed with what is referred to as Phase II technology. All wireless carriers are working toward providing this information and it should be in place in the near future.
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