Message from the Sheriff about siren and paging activity this morning. 
To the Citizens of Gibson County,
Greetings. I want to personally reach out and address the incident involving the storm sirens that were activated this morning at approximately 4:55 a.m.
While I await the official report from Central Dispatch, I want to share what I currently know. At 4:55 a.m., Gibson County Central Dispatch received a call for service requiring a medic unit. A dispatcher—who brings 35 years of combined experience across multiple agencies—attempted to page the appropriate medic unit and fire department. Unfortunately, the “all call” feature was inadvertently activated, triggering the countywide storm sirens.
Upon realizing the error, the dispatcher attempted to cancel the tone but was unsuccessful. A dispatch supervisor was immediately notified and began an internal investigation. A follow-up page was sent to all fire departments clarifying that there was no severe weather threat.
As we move forward, I want to address a few key points:
-
Severe Weather Protocols:
Earlier this year, it was determined that during any significant severe weather threat, all fire departments would be paged. However, this process consumed a considerable amount of radio airtime. In June, Chief Deputy George Ballard and I met with the company that installed our new dispatch system. They are now working on implementing a single tone that can alert all fire departments and medic units simultaneously during such events. -
Equipment Issues:
We are also addressing technical issues that arose during our recent system transition. We have made it clear to the contractor that these problems must be resolved, and we will not relent until they are. -
Siren System Upgrades:
I understand the public’s concern regarding the storm sirens. Please know that the Emergency Management Director, County Commissioners, and County Council are actively working together to upgrade and replace the current system. Based on my discussions with the EMA Director, I believe that in the future, the decision to activate sirens will no longer rest solely with Central Dispatch.
Some have asked why all sirens are activated even when only part of the county is affected. This is done out of an abundance of caution to ensure public safety.
Finally, I want to assure you that I take incidents like this morning’s very seriously. Our dispatchers are the first of our first responders. They are a vital link in our emergency response system. During my tenure as Sheriff, I have addressed performance issues ranging from verbal coaching to termination when necessary. I remain committed to training and refining our Communications Officers to ensure they perform at the highest level.
In cases like today, where equipment or programming fails our citizens, I will continue to hold our contractors accountable and have frank conversations about our expectations.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Sincerely,
Bruce Vanoven
Sheriff, Gibson County
Address/Location
Gibson County Sheriff
112 E Emerson St
Princeton, IN 47670
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 812-385-3496