HONOLULU (KHON2) — The County of Hawaii has officially opened its new Emergency Call Center in Hilo.
Located on Mohouli Street, the center will serve as a unified dispatch hub for both the police and fire departments.
“This is a major step forward in improving public safety,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda during a blessing and dedication ceremony on Monday. “This facility allows our Police and Fire dispatchers to work side by side, providing more effective and timely responses to emergencies.”
The opening of the $31 million center also coincides with National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, an annual event recognizing the hard work of emergency dispatchers.
“What better way to honor our police communications officers than with a new, state-of-the-art facility that gives them the space and technology they need,” said Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz. “This center is built to serve our community for years to come.”
“This has been a long time coming, and it’s incredible to see it become a reality,” said Fire Chief Kazuo Todd. “The integration of our police and fire dispatch teams in this space will improve coordination and response times, ultimately benefiting the people of Hawaii.”
The new center also marks an important milestone for Hawaii’s public safety infrastructure. Chief Moszkowicz noted that this October will mark 50 years since the current police headquarters and dispatch center opened in 1975, making the new facility a much-needed upgrade.