Southeast Communications Center (SE-COMM) is one of the two divisions of Benton County Emergency Services (BCES). SE-COMM and Benton County Emergency Management share a facility in Richland, Washington.

SE-COMM is the 9-1-1 dispatch center for the city of Kennewick police and fire agencies, city of Richland police and fire agencies, West Richland Police Department, Benton County Sheriff's Office and Benton County Fire Protection Districts 1, 2 and 4.  Dispatchers at SE-COMM answer all 9-1-1 calls throughout Benton County, including the Prosser area.

The center is staffed on a 24-hour basis. Current staffing level is 28 full-time dispatchers, two part-time dispatchers, four shift supervisors, a training supervisor, a Computer-Aided-Dispatcher (CAD) Coordinator, and a Communications Manager.

On the morning February 29, young Macey McCann Widmier knew her grandmother was in need of medical attention. She placed a call to 9-1-1. SE-COMM Dispatcher Teresa Foraker took the call.  Macey remained calm and stayed on the line providing information to the dispatcher as emergency crews were dispatched.  SE-COMM Manager Jim Barber was impressed with Macey's actions. Macey did a great job,” said Barber. “It is a good lesson for anyone of any age who calls 911.  You need to remain calm and provide as much information to the dispatcher as possible.”  BCES honored Macey at a brief ceremony March 14. The six-year-old Richland resident took all the attention in stride as reporters from the Tri-City Herald and the three local television stations photographed and interviewed her.

Each year one of the agency's dispatchers is named Dispatcher of the Year.  Tamara Bell is the 2007 Dispatcher of the Year for SE-COMM.

SE-COMM averages about 28,000 phone calls per month.  This number includes both emergency and non-emergency calls.

Some of the new communication technologies now available for area residents can impact your ability to call 9-1-1.  One of the most recent is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).  This technology allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line.  It can have an huge impact on your ability to contact 9-1-1 in an emergency.  Please read the important information at the following link.