Should Provo 911 send a call for help?

"I asked if she would do that, and to my knowledge she did not do that, and our current supervisor would do that if needed," Bolda said.

Geslison said Ferre was asked to shepherd two new, large projects: the installation of the new enhanced 911 phase II system that will help trace cell phone calls and the potential remodeling of the dispatch center.

"To imply we have not listened is not fair," Geslison says.

"We've been able to keep dispatch positions when we've lost a dispatcher," he adds. "The city has been very supportive. There are other departments where they haven't been able to replace positions."

Are 911 callers in Provo as safe as they can be?

"Yes, we have good people over there," Geslison said. "This is a team operation. And apparently someone has forgotten that it's a team operation. Dispatch is part of that team. Patrol is part of that team. Fire is part of that team. When we work together as a team I can answer without any hesitation — without any hesitation — yes."

Ferre says she's talking now to make sure Geslison is right.

"I'm not out to hurt Provo," Ferre says. "Just the opposite. I want the situation fixed. It's sad dispatchers who have sacrificed a lot have taken the brunt of this thing.

"It's sad, because they're the best — as good as you get."

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com