WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA – Wilson County Emergency Communications recently earned accreditation from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) as an Emergency Medical/Fire Dispatch Center of Excellence. Wilson County 9-1-1 now has the distinguished honor of being the 365th Emergency Medical and 84th Fire Dispatch Accredited Center in the world. In addition, they are the 9th accredited center in North Carolina that is accredited in both Emergency Medical and Fire Dispatch.

“Every 9-1-1 call represents someone who needs help and our job is to deliver calm, professional and life-saving assistance,” said Jeff Williford, Director of Emergency Communications. “IAED accreditation reflects the dedication of our Telecommunicators and our continued focus on quality, accountability, and public safety. I’m extremely proud of our team and the service they provide our community every day.

There are currently over 3,500 emergency communications centers in the world using IAED’s medical, fire, police and/or nurse triage protocols. Their protocol-based system is recognized as the standard of care and practice for emergency dispatch and is currently used throughout 46 countries. 

“Wilson County 9-1-1 Telecommunicators are respected statewide and in their profession for their dedication to quality and for their service to all of Wilson County’s citizens and municipalities,” stated County Manager Ron Hunt. “This accreditation is yet another example of their quality achievement and continuous commitment. We are proud of the staff and leadership for this achievement.”

Wilson County Emergency Communications will be recognized at NAVIGATOR 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada April 21–24, 2026 and enjoy a special evening with fellow distinguished agencies. The annual NAVIGATOR conference is the premier event for public safety telecommunicators dedicated to achieving excellence in every emergency. For more information on the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, visit emergencydispatch.org

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