With more than 17 years as an E-911 dispatcher, Kenneth Rowell has heard it all. There are the good calls when problems are solved and the caller is able to go about their day, and there are calls that are hard to handle.
Rowell, who was born and raised in the Lawrence community in Newton County, started off his career in law enforcement. He joined the Forest Police Department as a police officer in 2005.
In 2007 multiple knee surgeries in both legs led him to pivot to 911 dispatching for Forest first responders instead. A few years later, he joined Lauderdale County E-911 and has been working there ever since.
“I had three years prior dispatching there, so altogether I’ve got 17 years dispatching, 20 years law enforcement, “ he said.
One of the first things a 911 dispatcher will ask when someone calls is where they are calling from, Rowell said. It’s a critical piece of information in getting help on the way.
“I need to know where. If I know where, I can send somebody if nothing else,’” he said.
E-911 dispatchers serve a critical role, Rowell said. Parts of the job have been enjoyable while others have been tragic. Rowell said he is the only one at the E-911 center dispatching on June 9, 2022, when Meridian Police Officer Kennis Croom was killed responding to a domestic violence call.
“You get your highs; you get your lows. It’s a job, and we don’t get a lot of pats on the back. It’s a thankless job, and we know that when we take the job.”
For those who do have to call 911, Rowell said be patient. Dispatchers are doing everything they can to help, but they need information to ensure the right resources are sent that way.
“We get called, and we get cussed at and fussed at, and we’re just tryin to save you and trying to help you. People don’t understand that,” he said.
April 12-18 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and Lauderdale County is using the observance to highlight the work of its E-911 dispatchers and the vital role they play in public safety. Anyone interested in learning more about being an E-911 dispatcher can call 601-482-7559.