Monroe Voters to Mull 911 Charge

Monroe County voters will decide whether they wish to pay an additional charge for 911 services and an income tax to benefit schools when they go to the polls Nov. via Wheeling News

[Law Dog]

Monroe County needs 911 like it needs higher taxes.

[dpotts]

Nobody wants to pay for 911 until they're in an emergency and can't remember the 10 digit phone number. I've been in that situation (in Monroe County), it sucks.

[Law Dog]

If you can't remember a ten digit emergency phone number you need to be removed from the gene pool

[ALX]

If you were in enough pain or frightened enough, you'd be surprised that you might forget your own phone number, Law Dog.

[Citizen]

I do think that Monroe County needs 911. I wouldn't mind paying for it. I lived in Florida for 15 years and we had 911 service there, I needed it a couple of times and it was wonderful. You don't even need to talk on the phone, if you're choking and just call 911 you will have someone at your house in no time. They can tell where ypu are calling from without you saying a word. My wife needed an ambulance about two months ago and I couldn't remember any phone numbers except 911. I was truly in a bind, I was so worried about her that I couldn't think straight. We need 911

[Citizen]

I agree

[Joe Cline]

Is E911 necessary? Several years ago our city faced the same question. Many people responded with the same questions and comments. Do we need a tax. Can people remember the phone number without a 911.
Allow me to share a true story with you then you decide if E911 is worth it or not.
It was early one cold morning when the phone in the police station rang and a woman on the other end said a house trailer was on fire. Before the police officer could get any directions or conditions from the lady a voice in the background said "I've already called the fire dept. so the lady said never mind the fire dept knows and she hung up the phone.
Fire calls came into the police dept. and no such call was received. The police officer was convinced that the woman was sincere but he had no way of knowing where the phone call came from . It could have came from in the city or anywhere in the north half of Beauregard Parish. The only option was contact both City Fire stations and The Sheriffs office. All agencies were dispatched to search for a fire. Nearly 15 minutes past before the next call reported the fire and gave a location. Sadly we lost three small children .
The E911 bill came before the police jury and city council it passed. I have never missed the few pennies it cost but I still miss the children and to this day I cannot pass the empty lot where the house trailer set without thinking of those kids.
I was the police officer on duty that night and took the call.