The Board of Commissioners has adopted a 911 Service Plan and assigned the management of 911 operations to the County Sheriff. The 911 Advisory Board offers guidance to the County Board, the Sheriff, and the 911 Director on Central Dispatch operations and the implementation of the 911 Final Service Plan in Van Buren County.

The 911 Advisory Board meets quarterly at 9:00 AM, usually on the second Wednesday of January, April, July, and October. Meetings are held in the Board of Commissioners’ chambers at 219 E. Paw Paw Street, Second Floor, Paw Paw, MI 49079.

2026 Meeting Schedule

• January 14, 2026
• April 8, 2026
• July 8, 2026
• October 14, 2026
• January 13, 2027

Van Buren County 911 Advisory Board Members

• Mike Chappell (Chair) – Van Buren County Board of Commissioners (M)
• Dennis Reynolds (Vice-Chair) – Emergency Medical Services (M)
• Sheriff Dan Abbott – Van Buren County Sheriff Office (M)
• Chief Derek Babcock – Van Buren County Fire Chiefs Assoc. (M)
• Tina Leary – Van Buren County Board of Commissioners (M)
• Lt. Rusty Ernestes – Michigan State Police (M)
• Dpty. Ray Hochsprung – Van Buren County Emergency Mgt. Coordinator (D)
• Ross Stein – Michigan Township Association of VBCO (D-A)
• Chief Jay Allen – Van Buren County Police Chief’s Association (M)
• Mike Toth – General Public (D-A)
• Vacant – City / Village Elected Official (D-A)

(M) = Mandatory member
(D) = Discretionary member
(A) = Appointed member

Learn More

For more information about Van Buren County 911, visit the Central Dispatch page.