The Columbus Lowndes E911 board of commissioners has hired Shalonda Givens as the department’s new director.
Givens began as a dispatcher with E911 in 2006 and has worked as dispatch supervisor since 2010. She started work as director on Saturday. Her salary is $48,000 per year.
As director, Givens will oversee 16 dispatchers in the E911 call center. She will also work closely with county and city law enforcement agencies, ambulance services and the Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency.
“It’s very exciting,” Givens said. “It’s a little bit overwhelming, but I’m ready to take it on. I’ll be working to make things more effective and efficient within our call center and to improve our teamwork.”
Givens replaces Melanie McCoy, who resigned in September 2014. Retired director Sheri Fancher has served as interim since then, and she will stay on board to train Givens for at least a month.
“That will be very helpful, rather than just going into it blind,” Givens said. “I’m ready to accept the challenge and make things better any way I can.”
Chuck Cook, president of the seven-member board of commissioners, said Givens would serve six months probation. He said the director’s job was not for the faint of heart, and commissioners pored over the decision.
“Not everybody can do this job,” Cook said. “I’m hoping the right decision was made. It took a long time for the commission to make this decision, and it put a lot of pressure on us. But we believe we have the right person in place.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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