St Joseph County Central Dispatch

08/25/2026

The Three Rivers Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating Madison Pitcher, 17 years old. She was last seen in the area of Riverside Church on E. Michigan Ave. Madison was wearing a black crop top and black leggings.

If seen, please contact St. Joseph County Central Dispatch at 269-467-4195.

08/17/2026

🚍 August is Back to School Month! 📚✏️

As students across St. Joseph County prepare to head back to the classroom, the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office reminds everyone to help make this school year a safe one by staying alert around school buses and in school zones.

Every child deserves to get to and from school safely. When you see a school bus:

🟡 Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop—slow down and be ready to stop.
🔴 Red flashing lights and the extended stop arm mean you must stop at least 20 feet away from the bus in both directions, unless you're traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway.

In Michigan during 2024, there were 54 crashes at school bus stops while bus lights and stop arms were activated, resulting in 26 injuries and one tragic fatality. These crashes are preventable.

As you travel throughout the county this school year:

🚸 Slow down in school zones and residential neighborhoods.
👀 Watch carefully for children crossing streets, riding bicycles, and walking between parked vehicles.
🛑 Stay alert for crossing guards and school safety patrols.

Remember, passing a stopped school bus is not only dangerous—it can result in a civil fine of up to $500, with significantly more severe penalties if someone is injured or killed.

Let's all do our part to keep our students, school staff, and bus drivers safe this school year.

08/11/2026

WEATHER ALERT — PLEASE TAKE TODAY SERIOUSLY.

St. Joseph County remains under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 5 PM. The biggest concern with this line of storms is the potential for extreme, destructive winds.

The National Weather Service has been issuing Tornado Warnings ahead of portions of this storm to give people time to get into a safe place. Do not assume a Tornado Warning means “it’s probably nothing” if you don’t see a tornado. The winds associated with this storm are capable of producing significant damage on their own.

Reports coming out of the Chicago/Northwest Indiana area have included exceptionally strong winds as this system moves east. This is exactly why we want to reiterate yesterday’s message:

Secure anything outside that can become airborne.
Stay away from windows.
Have multiple ways to receive weather warnings.
Charge your phones and devices NOW.
Know where you will shelter BEFORE a warning is issued.
And please — if a warning is issued for your location, TAKE SHELTER.

Straight-line winds can take down large trees and power lines and cause significant structural damage. A storm does not need to produce a tornado to be dangerous.

Keep an eye on the weather this afternoon and don’t wait until the storm is on top of you to prepare.

We will update when and if we are able. We hope this stays south of our area. Stay safe.

08/10/2026

Severe Thunderstorm Watch — 8/10/26

St. Joseph County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 2 AM Tuesday, 8/11.

Batten down the hatches, mateys! Storms could produce wind gusts up to 70 MPH and hail up to 1.5 inches.

That’s gusty enough to sail your patio furniture and trash cans across the yard! But more importantly, winds that strong can take down trees and large limbs, take out power, cause damage, and bring down power and communication lines.

Before storms arrive:
* Secure loose outdoor items.
* Charge your phones and devices.
* Stay away from windows during severe storms.
* Never approach downed lines.
* Have multiple ways to receive weather warnings.

Storms can be a very busy time for us. We typically field lots of calls all at once, and usually multiple calls for each incident/call for service. We appreciate your patience!

Quick reminder: If you happen to lose power, we do not hold any restoration time for power outages. Those are determined by the provider itself and have many variables. Please call your electric company if you are looking for that information.

As always, if there’s an emergency, please call us!

Stay weather aware tonight. I’m hoping the storms stay to our south, but wanting to inform citizens of potential hazards since there is a watch issued. *Please tune into your favorite trusted weather source for any and all up to date weather information!

Hopefully Mother Nature keeps the drama to a minimum and your patio furniture stays on your patio.

08/09/2026

5:36pm UPDATE: Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect for southwestern St. Joseph County until 6:15pm.
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Severe Thunderstorm Watch

St. Joseph County MI is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 7pm.

08/04/2026

Today we’re celebrating Makenzi and her 5 years of dedicated service at St. Joseph County Central Dispatch!

Over the past five years, Makenzi has become someone we can always count on. She’s a hard worker who she sees what needs to be done and jumps right in. Whether she’s helping behind the scenes or representing us in the community through our 911 for Kids program, she gives every task her best.

Makenzi is also the kind of coworker who makes every shift a little brighter. She always has a smile on her face, keeps things lighthearted, and is a fantastic partner to work alongside.

Thank you, Makenzi, for your dedication, positivity, and everything you do for our team and our community. Congratulations on 5 years of service! We’re grateful to have you as part of the Central Dispatch family!

07/14/2026

***UPDATE: FOUND***

Please call 269.467.4195 with any information or sightings.

*****UPDATE*****
Averie was found, thank you to the community who helped us look for and locate her.

******UPDATE******

The Three Rivers Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Averie Yingling 13 years old. She was last seen wearing a purple shirt and black pants. Last seen in the 1000 block of Elm St. If located please call Central Dispatch at 269-467-4195.

07/08/2026

Our Deputy Director, Sabrina Lindsley, travelled to Columbus, OH, to the National NENA Conference for the CMCP (Center Manager Certification Program) Class. See below a description of the nationally recognized leadership/management program.
Congratulations Sabrina!! You are now part of an ELITE group of 911 professionals who are certified CMCPs.
We see YOU and the hard work you put into our center EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!!!

07/02/2026