The following is a press release from Logan County Sheriff Randy Dodds and Bellefontaine Police Chief Chris Marlow dated Thursday, July 31, 2025:
The Logan County Sheriff’s Office and the Bellefontaine Police Department are joining forces to create a unified, countywide 9-1-1 dispatch center to improve emergency response times and coordination throughout Logan County. The plan, which will go before voters in November 2025, includes a 2.0 mill property tax levy to fund the new combined dispatch center. If approved, the levy would cost Logan County property owners approximately $70 per year for every $100,000 of appraised property value.
The goal is clear: faster, more coordinated emergency response—when seconds matter most.
Currently, Bellefontaine operates a separate dispatch center, while the Sheriff’s Office provides dispatching for all other emergency services in Logan County. Under the proposal, those two systems would be consolidated into a single, modern 9-1-1 center located at the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. All emergency calls for police, fire, and EMS would be handled through one coordinated system.
“This is a public safety investment,” said Logan County Sheriff Randy Dodds. “The longer we operate two parallel systems, the more we risk delays in response, gaps in communication, and duplication of effort. In an emergency, every second counts. This change will save lives.”
The proposed system will bring every Logan County resident under the same high-quality emergency dispatch service—for the first time in the county’s history. For decades, the Sheriff’s Office has provided dispatching for nearly every jurisdiction in Logan County except the City of Bellefontaine. Those services have been provided without direct cost to those departments, while Bellefontaine has shouldered its own expenses
This proposal would end that fragmentation, bringing consistency, equity, and efficiency to how emergency calls are handled. It would also ensure every Logan County resident is contributing their fair share to 9-1-1 operations.
While the Bellefontaine Police Dispatch Center would be closed as part of the transition, no jobs would be lost—all current dispatchers would be offered positions in the new countywide center.
“Our dispatchers are some of the most committed public servants I’ve ever had the honor to work with,” said Bellefontaine Police Chief Chris Marlow. “They’ve served this community with professionalism, compassion, and grit. This transition doesn’t diminish their role—it elevates it. They will be at the heart of something bigger: a stronger, smarter, more unified system that serves the entire county.”
“Change is hard, especially when it affects people you care about,” Marlow continued. “But as Chief, I have to make decisions with the best interests of the community in mind. This is the right move for Bellefontaine and for all of Logan County. It will save time, save money—and most importantly, save lives.”
While the levy does represent a new property tax, it allows both the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and Bellefontaine Police Department to redirect existing general fund spending previously used for dispatch operations. Those savings can instead be invested in:
- Hiring more patrol officers and deputies
- Purchasing upgraded equipment
- Supporting community safety programs
- This new system means:
- Faster response to emergencies
- Better coordination between agencies
- Unified protocols and upgraded technology
- One team, focused on one mission: your safety
Emergencies don’t wait for jurisdiction lines,” Sheriff Dodds emphasized. “A single dispatch system will eliminate delays, reduce confusion, and improve outcomes for everyone in Logan County.”
