GREENWOOD — A new facility in Center Grove is being called a game changer with a goal of keeping students and the community safe.
The Center Grove Emergency Operations Center provides a centralized place for Center Grove Police, a full-service fire station shared by Bargersville and White River Township Fire Departments and a satellite office for the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.
"We're always stronger working together. They say two heads are better than one and we're putting four to five different agencies together in one building. Think of how awesome that's going to be and all that we can do," Bargersville Fire Chief Eric Funkhouser said. "Today is one of the most exciting days of my career."
The Center Grove Emergency Operations Center, located at 2309 S Morgantown Road, is less than a half mile from some Center Grove schools. Officials say the location will improve response times - particularly at schools.
Assistant superintendent Bill Long says the idea came after a 2018 security assessment when the district was told it needed to improve response times and live monitoring.
Now, one person from Center Grove Police is dedicated to live monitoring about 700 cameras.
"One of the things that probably keeps all school administrators awake at night is 'are we doing enough to protect our kids?' This station gives us something that not only does it protect our students and our staff, but it helps better protect our whole community," Long said.
The project and facility is one of only a few in the country. Training continues for the police department.
"We have this great facility, now we have to master it," Center Grove Police Chief Ray Jackson said.
-
Rice leads No. 16 Indiana past South Carolina
Myles Rice scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half and No. 16 Indiana defeated South Carolina 87-71 on Saturday.
California health officials report first case of new form of mpox in the US
The first known case of clade I mpox in the U.S. was recently discovered in a person in California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday.
Ball St. fires coach Mike Neu after 4 straight losing seasons
Ball State fired coach Mike Neu on Saturday following four straight losing seasons since winning his only Mid-American Conference title.
Southwest flight headed to Indy struck by gunfire at Dallas airport
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, while taxiing for takeoff at Dallas Love Field Airport, a Southwest Airlines headed to Indy was reportedly struck by gunfire Friday night.
