Statement of purpose

It has been shown to be in the public interest to shorten the time required for a citizen to request and receive emergency aid. Provision of a single, primary three-digit emergency number through which emergency services can be quickly and efficiently obtained will provide a significant contribution to public safety efforts by making it less difficult to quickly notify public safety personnel. Furthermore, the identification of streets, roads, highways, and dwelling places by name and number will serve to decrease the response time of public safety personnel to emergency calls by facilitating the systematic location of such places without difficulty and ambiguity. Such a simplified means of procuring emergency services will result in the saving of life, a reduction in the destruction of property, quicker apprehension of criminals, and ultimately the saving of money. The establishment of such an emergency number, the identification of thoroughfares and dwelling places, and the provision of effective communication equipment and features to public safety agencies are matters of concern and interest to all inhabitants and citizens. The purposes of this Part are to establish the number 911 as the primary emergency telephone number for use in Jefferson Parish and to provide for other communication enhancements including interoperable radio communication networks and computer aided dispatching equipment capabilities which will enable public safety agencies to decrease response time and improve effectiveness.