Village of McCook, Illinois
WC3 Dispatch West Central Consolidated Communications
West Central Consolidated Communications
West Central Consolidated Communications (WC3) is a consolidated dispatch center serving the Villages of McCook, North Riverside, Riverside, and Brookfield. The primary goal of WC3 is to provide a consolidated 9-1-1 system that can efficiently and effectively handle emergency and non-emergency calls and initiate requests for police, fire, and EMS.
The center strives to provide professional telecommunicators and 9-1-1 call takers, and to deliver those services affordably to the residents, business community, and public. It is the goal of WC3, in partnership with its member agencies, to provide emergency communications for the saving and protection of the lives and property of the citizens they serve.
Important — All Calls Routed to WC3
Residents and businesses must remember that all emergency and non-emergency calls are routed to WC3 — currently housed at the North Riverside Police Department — and not to the McCook Police Department. Administrative phone calls will still reach the police desk during business hours.
Next Generation 9-1-1
In 2015, the Illinois General Assembly adopted Public Act 99-0006 to prepare Illinois for the implementation of a statewide "Next Generation" 911 system — bringing expanded capabilities and broader interoperability to emergency communications across the state.
Text Messages
NG911 supports text-to-911, allowing callers who cannot safely speak to communicate via SMS during an emergency.
Web Submissions
Greater data capacity and broader interoperability allows emergency reports to be submitted through web-based platforms.
Video Calls
Next Generation 911 enables video communication between callers and dispatch centers, providing richer situational awareness.
Public Act 99-0006 (2015): All local 911 systems in Illinois were required to become NG911 compliant. NG911 systems include greater data capacity and broad interoperability with more communication media than the previously operating enhanced E911 system.
What to Expect When Calling 9-1-1
When calling 9-1-1, please do your best to collect your thoughts and ensure that what you are calling to report is, in fact, an emergency — such as a medical emergency, crime in progress, traffic collision, or fire.
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Dispatcher Answers
A dispatcher will answer and state: "9-1-1 emergency, where is your emergency?" You are now in the hands of a trained crisis communications professional ready to help.
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Type of Emergency Is Determined
The dispatcher quickly identifies the type of emergency. For medical calls, they will ask questions to assess severity. For fires, they will determine what is burning and where — because different emergencies require different resources.
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Critical Information Is Collected
The dispatcher will quickly and accurately collect facts while making critical decisions based on the information you provide. Stay calm and answer questions as clearly as possible.
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Resources Are Dispatched
The correct resources — police, fire, or EMS — are dispatched to your location based on the information collected. Each call starts an intricate chain of events to provide you with the assistance you need.
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Stay on the Line
Stay on the phone and maintain your composure until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. All dispatchers are trained to deal with distressed callers — remaining on the line helps ensure the fastest, most accurate response.
Important Tips for 9-1-1 Callers
Knowing what to expect and how to respond can make a critical difference in the speed and quality of emergency response.
Stay on the Phone
Remain on the line until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. Staying connected ensures dispatchers can gather all the information needed to help you.
Stay Calm
Try to maintain your composure. Calming down a caller takes valuable time that is better used gathering critical information to dispatch help to you faster.
Know Your Location
Be ready to provide your exact address or location. This is the single most important piece of information when calling 9-1-1.
Accidental Dial — Don't Hang Up
If you dial 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up. Stay on the line and explain it was an error. A police officer may still respond to verify you are safe.
The Role of Our Dispatchers
WC3 dispatchers are highly trained professionals who are the vital first link in the chain of emergency response. Your safety depends on their skill.
Extensively Trained
Every WC3 dispatcher receives extensive training in crisis communications, enabling them to handle any type of emergency call with professionalism and speed.
Calm Under Pressure
Dispatchers serve as the calming influence in every emergency. They must be ready for any type of call — collecting facts quickly while managing a caller in crisis.
Your Safety First
The safety of you, your family, and the first responders who answer your call depends on the communication skills and training of WC3 dispatchers. They play a major role in keeping our community safe.
Dialed 9-1-1 by mistake? Do not hang up. Stay on the line and tell the dispatcher it was an accidental dial. A police officer may still respond to verify you are OK — be careful when dialing extensions or prefixes to reach an outside line.