The 911 dispatch center, a critical lifeline for our community in Harrisonburg, VA, is in dire straights and in need of immediete support and restructuring. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center has been grappling with issues such as understaffing, overwork, and problematic leadership that have led to a decline in their ability to respond to urgent 911 calls. 

The situation is so bad that it is leading to widespread resignations, severely affecting their service to the community.

Almost half of workers managing 911 calls in the U.S. are burned out from their work due to constant exposure to human suffering and high workloads. This negatively impacts not just the quality of emergency services, but the safety and well-being of residents living in and around the Harrisonburg area.

Our community of Harrisonburg and Rockingham residents along with JMU alumni, professors, and students contributes to more than 50% of the center's budget, which is a clear demonstration of our commitment and need for an effective and efficient service. Therefore, we are calling on the appropriate authorities to investigate and rectify matters related to the funding, staffing, and practices at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center.

We owe it to those working at the 911 call center, and more importantly, to the people who live and work in Harrisonburg and the JMU community – who need to know that help is available in emergencies.

Now is the time to take action. Please sign and share this petition with friends and on FaceBook.