Hutchins PD receives Next Generation 9-1-1 upgrade grant

HUTCHINS – The Hutchins Police Department recently received the good news it will receive $699,123.23 thanks to the recently passed 3rd Special Sesson Texas Senate Bill 8.

The Bill appropriates $150 million Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund monies to the Next Gen 9-1-1 fund. 

The NG9-1-1 fund promises improved emergency response services for cities receiving the funding, but it also requires call centers to adapt their operations, train staff and embrace new technologies.

Hutchins Police Chief Steve Perry said the money will go toward enhancing the Hutchins Police Department’s 911 call center technology to improve call processing time, enhance data exchange and add to the PD’s multimedia capabilities. 

The funding opportunity became available in March of this year for the State Emergency Communication funds and Hutchins Communications Supervisor Becky Blanton, has been with Hutchins PD since 2022, immediately went to work to ensure Hutchins applied for the grant within the designated timeline.

Chief Perry said Blanton has been “working diligently to improve Public Safety services to the City of Hutchins” and he commended her for stepping in to confirm all grant applications were submitted within the required time limits and submission deadlines to apply for the funding.

“This funding will greatly enhance public safety communications in the City of Hutchins, not only for our citizens to be able to text to 911, but will also improve locations services when needing to locate a 911 caller who may be in distress due to a medical or other emergency, mapping for our first responders and, voice translation,” Perry said.