Lake in the Hills 9-1-1 Call Center Closing: What You Need to Know

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL - The Lake in the Hills 9-1-1 call center is slated to close this summer. The closure comes as part of legislation passed two years ago by the General Assembly that requires the consolidation of dispatch centers that answer 9-1-1 calls for several agencies, which are also known as Public Answering Points.

The legislation required any county with a population greater than 250,000 people to reduce its dispatch centers by 50 percent, meaning McHenry County would have to shut down three out of six of its Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).

Since the summer of 2015, the Lake in the Hills Police Department and village of Lake in the Hills have been working diligently to determine the best solution for the PD under the new state mandated consolidation, according to information posted on the village's website.

"A lot of research was conducted to see what the best solutions would be for our dispatching needs as well as the needs of our community," according to the website. "After careful consideration, the decision was made to transfer the village’s 9-1-1 dispatch service to the Southeast Emergency Communications Center (SEECOM) in Crystal Lake. This will be the best and most logical dispatching center for our community."

The Lake in the Hills Dispatch Center has dispatched for Lake in the Hills, Huntley, Marengo, Fox River Grove, and Union police departments.

Will the General Public Notice the Transition?

The village of Lake in the Hills provides an answer to that question on its website:

We do not anticipate any noticeable changes during the actual transition for our residents nor any disruptions of services. However, we encourage all residents to register with the PD for free emergency notification and secondary communication services the PD with Nixle. You can do that by clicking here (text messaging fees may apply).
Also, for additional information, including emergency information, criminal information, local events and more, please follow us the Lake in the Hills Police Facebook page and @LITHPolice on Twitter.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the transition happen?

• The transition will start around May 1st with a tentative completion date July 2017.

When I call 911, who will answer my call?

• A 9-1-1- emergency dispatcher at SEECOM will answer your call. They will need to know the same information the LITH 9-1-1 dispatchers would need to know: what is the address of your emergency, what is your name, phone number, what is the emergency, is there any weapons on scene, is anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, etc.Please remember, 9-1-1 is for emergency calls only. If it is not an emergency, you will still need to dial the LITH PD non-emergency number at 847-658-5676 to have your question answered, report your concern, complaint, or to reach an officer or division.

Why are the SEECOM dispatchers asking me these questions?

• The dispatchers are asking you these questions to be able to know where you and the emergency are located. Secondly they need to be able to get the most information they can to first responders as fast as possible to best be able to help you.Please be prepared to help the SEECOM dispatchers with any and all information that they request of you. Please stay on the line with them and stay calm.

If I call the LITH PD non-emergency number, 847-658-5676? Who will answer the phone?

• If you call during business hours, Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm, or Tuesday 8a-7pm, the LITH PD Records Department will answer the phone. If it is after business hours, you will be speaking to a dispatcher at SEECOM. A SEECOM dispatcher can also respond to your question(s), send an officer to your location, take your complaint, or to connect your call to an officer or division, or to an officer’s personal voicemail box in which you need to leave a message for an individual officer.

How do I do overnight parking requests?

• The best way to do overnight parking requests is to click here. However, if you call them in, you will be speaking with a SEECOM dispatcher who will ask you the same questions as a LITH PD dispatcher would have asked you. There will be no changes to the overnight parking requests: Requests must be received at least 15 minutes prior to the 2 a.m. cutoff, overnight parking is limited to five quests within a calendar month, overnight parking will not be granted when there is one inch or more of snowfall and no parking over the sidewalk at any time of the day/night.

If I need to pay a P-Tix or need something from LITH PD Police Records, will they still be at the police station?

• Yes. Police Records will still be located at the station on the main level. You can come to see them during their regular business hours, Monday – Friday from 8:00am -5:00pm, Tuesday from 8:00am – 7:00pm. Police Records is closed on weekends and on all major holidays. You can also call the Record Department directly during business hours at 847-658-5676 with records questions. You can also pay online by clicking here.

Will anyone be at the lower lobby of the police station after business hours if I come to the police station to report an issue or need help?

• If you come to the LITH PD after business hours and you need police assistance, come to the lower lobby and pick up the emergency phone. It will automatically dial to the SEECOM dispatchers for assistance. They will find out what your needs are and dispatch assistance accordingly. You will also be on camera both outside the PD and inside the lobby.

What happened to the current LITH PD Dispatchers?

• Taking care of the people that were so dedicated and selflessly served our community was not only a concern but a priority for us. Our dispatchers are amazing people are we were devastated at the idea that we would be losing these men and women who are members of the Lake in the Hills police family. We are happy to report that two of our dispatchers have been reassigned to other roles within the police department and two of them have been hired at SEECOM. A few of our dispatchers are seeking careers as law enforcement officers themselves and have started the hiring process at area police departments. We could not be more excited for these young people in their bright futures. Lastly, a few of our dispatchers have decided to seek employment outside the field of dispatching and law enforcement. We wish them the absolute best in everything they do. We have been incredibly lucky to have worked with such incredible and talented people over the years. They will be missed.

Where else can I go for updates?

• Please keep checking the website and the PD’s Facebook page for continued updates and more questions and answers as we continue the transition and into the future of the PD.

Informational Meeting

Chief David Brey and Deputy Chief Mary Frake are holding an informational meeting that is open to the public and meant for anyone who would like to learn more about the transition.

Informational Meeting

• Date: Monday, April 17
• Location: Safety Education Center (SEC), 1109 Crystal Lake Road in Lake in the Hills
• Time: 7 p.m.

Photo via village of LITH website