DEXTER, Mo. -- Stoddard County 911 Services administrator Carol Moreland told the 911 Services board of directors "there has been quite a problem" with children calling the 911 dispatch center while playing with discarded cellphones. She said there have been several incidents. The comments came at the regular board meeting last week.

"I don't think it could get any worse than it is," Moreland said.

Moreland said parents are apparently unaware that anyone dialing random numbers from either a cellphone or a landline telephone will eventually reach the 911 dispatch center. She said if parents are going to give their children a discarded cellphone as a toy, they need to remove both the subscriber identification module (SIM) card and the battery.

"I think it is up to the parent to be responsible," Moreland said. A recent call, she said, was traced back to its location but the parent seemed indifferent to the complaint and that it happened again.

Moreland said these calls are distracting to dispatchers and emergency personnel. She added that parents could be prosecuted.

Pertinent address:

Dexter, MO