Named for visionary Jim Jarrett, the Harrison-Taylor Emergency 911 Communications Center in Charles Pointe held a ribbon cutting and stone unveiling Thursday morning. After those festivities was a program featuring speakers including Harrison County Commission President Ron Watson, Harrison County 911 Director Paul Bump, Harrison County Local Emergency Planning Commission member Jim Harris and others instrumental in the evolvement of emergency services and communications, such as Tom Harrison, former Shinnston firefighter who helped spearhead the original communications center. 

 

Emergency personnel, board of emergency services members, several county and city dignitaries and many others instrumental in the implementation of the state-of-the-art facility attended. Watson, who provided welcoming remarks, said was a historical dedication and a great day to be a citizen of Harrison County.

 

“It’s not often that government makes a dedication for an individual and we’re blessed that he is here to see the fruits of his efforts,” Watson said. “It’s only fitting that this complex bears the name of James S. Jarrett. Our records reflect that way back when, Jim Jarrett was instrumental in the start of a new beginning of bringing about improved communications for emergency responders in Harrison County and today we are fortunate to recognize those efforts.”

 

As a retired Washington DC police officer, Watson said he knows first-hand the value of the telecommunicators who he said are the backbone of a 911 center.

 

“These individuals are the lifeline for every police officer, every fireman and every EMS worker and equally important to everyone citizen who sees the need to call 911,” he said.

 

Watson, who has been with the Harrison County Commission since 2003, said the 9/11 (2001) terrorist attack was a turning point for emergency communications.

 

“We learned that communication among emergency service personnel was in dire need of improvements. Police officers, firemen and EMS workers were not able to even speak to each other by radio – even if they were only a few blocks away,” he said. “From this, the new P25 radio system was born and Harrison County, along with the assistance of (the late) Fred (Smart), (former Harrison County 911 director) provided the leadership to become the reality for Harrison County.”

 

The next challenge, Watson said, was to improve dispatchers’ abilities to communicate countywide with emergency service personnel.

 

“Our county, with over 450 square miles, was not able to dispatch to all our county’s nooks and crannies and hollers in Harrison County. There was need for more communication towers,” he said.

 

Today, about 98 percent of the county is covered and the remaining two percent is in progress.

 

Bump said when he began in 1984 as director of Harrison County Bureau of Emergency Services, one of the things instilled by Jarrett and Smart and all who worked with them was that “good isn’t good enough.” Bump said they taught him to push the envelope, think outside the box and be the very best they could be.

 

“To this day, we continue to be different – to always look at ways to improve communications and our relationships,” he said.

 

The new 911 center is equipped with technology and communication to serve first responders and citizens of Harrison and Taylor counties and beyond.

 

“One of the things Harrison County gets to do on a fairly regular basis is back up other counties in the state,” Bump said. “We are always ready, willing and able to do that and have done it several times.”

 

Formerly located in Nutter Fort, the Bureau of Emergency Services transitioned into the new building about a month ago.

 

Moving a department of 30 to 40 dispatchers into a new facility is stressful, but Bump said he commends the staff for a smooth transition and thanks the County Commissioners for their ongoing support.

 

Harrison explained how fire departments operated “back in the day” and how Jarrett – who was not employed by the county, but rather served as a volunteer – took it upon himself to improve the system by leaps and bounds. Firefighters were contacted by phone call to the fire station or firefighter’s home, after which an alarm sounded and firefighters headed to the station, now knowing until they got there the nature of the call. Off to the fire – many times in remote, rural areas – they would go with only the water reservoirs on their fire engines. There were no breathing apparatus and most firefighting had to be done outside the building. If backup firefighters were needed, they could be called but by the time they got there, it was generally too late.

 

“Jim saw these things,” Harrison said. “Most people see things how they are and accept it. Jim has never been one of those kinds of people. He looks at things the way they can be.”

 

Recognizing that things needed to change, Jarrett took firefighting courses at West Virginia University – lots of them – eventually serving as an instructor.

 

“He taught other people the proper way to fight fire,” Harrison said. “He also started to look at communications and the ways other departments work together … He looked around for communications systems that might work to get things started.”

 

At that time, the Harrison County Emergency Squad was the only organization that had radio communications.

 

“He talked to them and asked if they would dispatch – answer fire phones – for the three departments in the northern part of the county – Lumberport, Shinnston and Spelter,” Harrison said. “That’s how it got started.”

 

Other departments in the county heard the communications via the radio system and they, too, wanted to be involved. Bridgeport Fire Chief Ollie Blackwell was a supporter and wanted to join. He also offered space at Bridgeport Fire Station for the dispatch center. Jarrett took him up on that offer.

 

“At that time, he started making rounds to other places in the country he had heard had the best systems available,” Harrison said.

 

Jim Harris was a dispatcher at that time. He said Jarrett would bring back handwritten notes from Maryland, Chicago, Ill. and other places he visited.

 

“He came back with them in his briefcase to teach us what we could possibly do,” Harris said.

 

When Harrison County implemented a countywide 911 system, it cost residents 98 cents per landline. That hasn’t changed, Harris said.

 

“Jim Jarrett was my boss and I always thought he was a visionary from the beginning – about a lot of things, but especially about wanting to serve,” Harris said.

Jarrett said he was extremely humbled by the dedication.

 

“I am so honored that a state-of-the art facility like this would be named for me,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much it means. It’s one of the most wonderful things – outside of my family – in my life.”

 

But Jarrett quickly turned the focus on others.

 

“Even the tallest redwood in California or the tallest oak tree in Harrison County are only as good as their root systems,” he said. “You never see or hear about the roots, but they hold it up. I may be the tree, but I sure had all the right roots.” 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top (speaking) are Watson, Bump, Harrison, Harris and Jarrett.