METCAD is a consolidated dispatch center which was established in June of 1979 with 9 Telecommunicators and an Administrative staff of two. When established, METCAD served the Police Departments in Champaign, Urbana and the University of Illinois. In 1983, the Champaign County Sheriff's Office joined METCAD and in 1988 METCAD merged with FIRECOMM to consolidate fire and police dispatching services.

Today, METCAD answers emergency 9-1-1 calls for all of Champaign County (except the Village of Rantoul). With a staff of 26 Telecommunicators and 6 Administrative Staff Members, we provide direct dispatch service for law enforcement agencies and fire agencies through-out the county. Click HERE to see a list of the METCAD Member Agencies.

METCAD is active in the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) as well as the Illinois Chapter of NENA, INENA . Likewise, we are active in the Association of Public safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the Illinois Chapter of APCO. METCAD implemented a county-wide Enhanced 9-1-1 system on March 5, 1996. Three telephone companies serve Champaign County; AMERITECH, our "Host Telco"; Verizon (Formerly GTE) and McCleod USA / Illinois Consolidated.

METCAD is funded by contributions from member public safety agencies as well as a 1.50 cent per month surcharge on each telephone line in the county. This surcharge helps pay for 9-1-1 services throughout the county.