Elk City, OK – Elk City Police Chief John Cook says the department is essentially finished with its long awaited police and fire facility project, with one major piece still pending before full occupancy.

The final step is installation of a new Next Generation 911 system, made possible through a government grant. Cook said the department is currently scheduled to have the system installed during the first two weeks of February.

The upgraded 911 platform will bring new capabilities for residents, including the ability to text 911 and stream live video directly to dispatchers. Cook said those features are designed to make emergency reporting more accessible and user friendly, especially in situations where calling may not be possible.

Before the system can go live, multiple agencies must be fully integrated, including the FBI, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, and regional partners such as SWODA. Cook said coordinating all systems to launch at the same time has been the biggest challenge.

“We don’t want a lapse in coverage,” Cook said, explaining that the existing 911 system must be shut off at the exact moment the new one is activated. “It’s like flipping one switch on and the other off at the same time.”

The project was made possible after Elk City voters approved the extension and repurposing of an existing half-cent sales tax in April 2024. The tax was extended for eight years and funds expansions and infrastructure upgrades for both the police and fire departments.

As part of the redesign, space previously used for a municipal courtroom, which occupied roughly 25 percent of the original building but was only used one day a month, has been largely reclaimed. A courtroom remains in the plan, but the footprint has been adjusted to better serve daily operations.

A 1,500 square foot expansion was added to the east side of the building, and the entire facility has been modernized to support the technology heavy demands of today’s law enforcement.

Until the 911 system is fully installed and operational, the Elk City Police Department continues to operate out of the old City Hall building, while dispatch services remain housed in the former Buck’s Lodge.

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