Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco and members of his team went to county commissioners Tuesday to present a solution to the county’s troubled 911 call center.

Last month Pasco County announced plans to hire eight more positions for its call center, but Nocco says much more is needed. He also said the need for those changes is urgent.

More than 100 people packed the commission meeting Tuesday. Most were law enforcement and firefighters concerned about the call center and the risks they face as first-responders.

“I see the calls coming in, I see the calls with lack of information, I hear deputies call for backup with no response on the radio," Capt. Brett Landsberg said.

Sheriff Nocco and his team showed specific examples of the times the call center had failed them as well as the community.

“This individual was a suspect in a homicide," Nocco said. It was down in Holiday. A person called up and said, 'Hey, I know this person, I see them. They’re in the house next door.' The call got delayed."

In this particular case the murder suspect is still wanted.

Nocco had even more examples.

“There was a woman, she was home alone," Nocco said. "There was a person outside of her house and they had a knife, so what the call taker said to do was, 'Can you go outside and check to see if he’s still there?' ”

Nocco said he thinks the problem started in 2013, when the sheriff's office consolidated its dispatch with the county. Since then those who have been hired to work in the 911 call center have received less training.

Courtney Hager, who works in the sheriff's office and the call center, agreed with Nocco's assessment.

“Newly hired employees, less than one year mostly from 6-9 months, have been training new hires which they’re still fresh,” she said.

Despite these issues County Administrator Michele Baker went on the defense.

“One hundred percent of the emergency communications officers that are on the floor are cross-trained,” Baker said. “They can take law, they can handle medical, and they can handle fire calls.”

Further, she said they just don’t have a lot of experience yet, but that will come. She also mentioned the call center answers 99 percent of the incoming calls.

However Baker did admit some of the issues presented by the sheriff were new to her.

“They are very unfortunate situations and our operators were wrong,” said Baker.

Baker, along with the county commissioners, agreed they want to work on these issues and on a solution.

Nocco has some ideas: more training for call takers, more partnership, and bringing a lieutenant to be the assistant director to the call center.

County commissioners said they expect to have a solution by their next meeting. However, Nocco says that isn’t soon enough. He says he would like to see something within a week.

The county recently hired eight new call center employees. They are expected to start on Monday.