Wythe County Consolidated Emergency Dispatch Center
The 9-1-1 Center, known to all emergency responders as “Central” , is a joint initiative of the Town of Rural Retreat, Town of Wytheville and Wythe County. This center went in to service on June 10th, 2013. It serves as dispatch for Rural Retreat Police Department, Wytheville Police, Wythe County Sheriff’s Office, Rural Retreat Fire, Rural Retreat Life Saving Crew, Wytheville Fire & Rescue, Max Meadows Fire, Lead Mines Rescue, Ivanhoe Fire, Barren Springs Fire, and Speedwell Fire.
With over 15 employees, known as telecommunicators, Central manages all 9-1-1 calls made in Wythe County. This includes calls from citizens of the county, business owners, and travelers on the interstate.
In addition to Central being certified by the Virginia Criminal Information Network, FEMA, APCO and others, all E-911 telecommunicators are individually certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. They go through over 6 months of training before becoming eligible for state certification to become a state certified telecommunicator.
Funding for the construction and outfitting of the center was initially made possible thanks in large part to grant funding provided by the Wythe – Bland Foundation and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
To submit a FOIA request from the Emergency Communications Dispatch Center, you may direct your request to Jamie Grubb.
Jamie Grubb
340 S. Sixth St. Wytheville, VA 24382
Phone: 276-223-4544
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MARCUS Information
MARCUS or Mental Health Awareness Response and Community Understanding Services alert system is a set of protocols in the state of Virginia, set forth by the Code of Virginia, Article 16. 9.1-193. It provides that the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBHDS) shall develop and establish a mental health awareness response and community understanding services (MARCUS) alert system throughout the Commonwealth.
The first step in this process is to establish a database for the information. All localities have been mandated to set up a system to gather that data. The Wythe County Emergency Communications Center will be gathering voluntary information from individuals to help when local emergency services respond to an incident involving that individual has developed a simple form for that purpose. Contact information, emergency contact information, and other mental status information can be listed on the form, along with medications, or anything that the individual might feel is necessary for emergency responders to know. The form can be emailed, mailed, dropped off in person, or faxed. The form can be changed or updated at any time by the individual. A guardian of an adult or minor may fill out the form for that individual (proof of guardianship may be needed before the information is entered into the system). Upon the minor reaching the age of 18, the information will be removed from the system.
Please click here for the Marcus Alert Information Form Fillable
If you have questions about this form, please call 276-223-4533.