Hawaiʻi County officials broke ground on a new emergency call center which will be located off of the Mohoʻuli Extension in Hilo.

The center, constructed by Hensel Phelps Construction, will house both Police and Fire Dispatch and Currently, Fire Dispatch and Police Dispatch are operated from two separate locations, with Fire Dispatch being operated in a tsunami evacuation area.

Construction is slated to be completed by early 2023.  Upon completion, the center will increase communication between departments and the community, accommodate updated technology and communications systems, and create room for increased staffing. In attendance at the groundbreaking were Mayor Mitch Roth, Managing Director Lee Lord, Councilmember Aaron Chung, Hawaiʻi Police Chief Paul Ferreira, Hawaiʻi Fire Assistant Chief Ian Smith, Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno, and representatives from Hensel Phelps Construction.

The project will cost a total of $25.4 million and is part of the county’s Capital Improvement Funds budget.

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Mayor’s Office