History of 911
911 began in the late 1960s as a response to rising crime, civil unrest, and growing public safety needs. The idea of a single emergency number had been discussed for years, but it gained urgency after national commissions recommended it following the 1967 President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Commission on Civil Disorders. The first 911 call was made on February 16, 1968, in Haleyville, Alabama, by Alabama Speaker of the House Rankin Fite to U.S. Representative Tom Bevill.
The Federal Government backed the emergency number plan in 1973, and AT&T chose “911” because it was cheap to implement, easy to remember, and simple to dial.
Early 911 systems were basic, sending calls to the right dispatch center but without location details. Later, Enhanced 911 (E-911) added caller address and phone number for landlines, though wireless calls still lacked exact location. Today, Fayette County uses a Next Generation 911 system that handles calls, texts, and even multimedia, while pinpointing even wireless caller’s locations, giving communications officers the tools they need to respond quickly and accurately, continuing the mission that started over 50 years ago.
HONORING A LEGACY
Peggy Rogers Glaze
February 17, 1958 – December 3, 2020
Peggy was appointed as the very first Assistant Director of Fayette County 911 in 1995. At the time Fayette County 911 was a brand new consolidated Public Safety Dispatch Center. Peggy remained in that position until her retirement in 2016. Our 911 Center, and indeed our community, would not be what it is today had it not been for her leadership and service.