Which Dispatch Consoles Do Modern 911 Centers Use?
Knox County Emergency Communications District (Knox 911) serves as the primary PSAP for Knox County, Tennessee, answering and dispatching approximately 500,000 emergency calls each year across the city and county.
Knox 911 was simultaneously planning a new backup communications center and a complete remodel of its main facility, which had not been updated since 2003. The existing center needed a significant upgrade to better support today’s technology and the needs of its team.
The goal was to create a more comfortable, functional work environment while improving technology integration and access to critical IT equipment. Just as important, both projects needed to be completed without disrupting 24/7 operations.
Knox 911 selected Russ Bassett FLEX Consoles, along with storage cabinetry designed to accommodate auxiliary technology and equipment.
The Russ Bassett team worked closely with Knox 911 to develop layouts that made better use of each space, improved the working environment for team members, and provided easier access to IT equipment for ongoing service and maintenance.
During the proposal process, Knox 911 evaluated how each solution would meet its operational needs and improve the overall workspace. Russ Bassett stood out for its ability to thoughtfully plan the space around both the people and technology within the center.
The team also valued Russ Bassett’s flexibility in coordinating the installation schedules for both facilities while ensuring operations could continue without downtime.
The project resulted in two fully functional, modern communications centers. The remodeled main center provides a workspace the Knox 911 team is proud of, while the new backup center gives the agency much-needed redundancy and additional training capabilities.
Because the backup center mirrors the functionality of the main communications center, employees can also train on equipment and workstations consistent with their everyday environment.
Completing two mission-critical projects while maintaining continuous operations required careful planning and coordination. Knox 911 particularly appreciated Russ Bassett’s flexibility with scheduling and the professionalism of the delivery and installation teams.
“This was not an easy project, and Russ Bassett made sure it went as smoothly as possible.”
“Everyone who sees it is very impressed, and the team loves the new space.”
“Our partnership with Russ Bassett has been excellent, and we are proud of our new centers.”
The transformation has been extremely well received.
Team members have also commented on the comfort of the new equipment and the positive impact the updated environment has had on their day-to-day experience.