WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WDNews) — Emergency calls in Walton County can now ring at multiple public safety agencies at the same time as officials expand a system designed to improve coordination and reduce delays.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the South Walton Fire District and DeFuniak Springs Police Department have formally joined the county’s Simultaneous 911 Ringing System.
The system routes emergency calls to multiple agencies at the same time based on where a call originates. The sheriff’s office serves as Walton County’s primary Public Safety Answering Point, meaning 911 calls first enter through the agency. When appropriate, calls can now simultaneously ring at other participating agencies based on the caller’s location.
Officials said the change can improve information sharing and reduce delays that can occur when calls have to be transferred between dispatch centers.
“The project represents a significant step in modernizing emergency communications in Walton County,” Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said. “By bringing SWFD and DFSPD fully into the simultaneous 911 environment, we’re ensuring that every second counts and that first responders have the information they need as quickly as possible.”
According to the sheriff’s office, Walton County Geographic Information Systems developed new mapping layers to determine which agencies should receive calls simultaneously.
The system underwent about three months of testing involving dispatchers from all three agencies and technical partners. The system went live in July, but officials said agencies continue working to refine procedures and improve coordination.
“Developing this system included careful planning and forecasting to bolster Emergency Communications staffing levels specifically in South Walton Fire District’s jurisdiction,” SWFD Fire Chief Ryan Crawford said. “We prepared for the increase in our inbound 911 call volume while fostering collaborative operating procedures to reflect ‘Walton County 911’ as a team. Ultimately, the agencies involved did the work to make this possible, but the true beneficiaries are the taxpayers who receive critical redundancy in their local 911 system.”
DeFuniak Springs Police Chief James Hurley said the system is especially important for the community.
“We’re a small community, and when someone calls 911, they deserve quick help from folks who know this area and care about the people in it,” Hurley said. “Joining this system means we’re working shoulder to shoulder with our partners across the county to make sure no call gets delayed. It’s another way we’re looking out for our neighbors and doing everything we can to keep them safe.”
According to the sheriff’s office, the project is part of a broader effort to strengthen Walton County’s public safety communications and provide first responders with reliable and efficient information.
The sheriff’s office also credited dispatchers from all three agencies for their work in getting the expanded system launched.
