Wrightsville Beach switching to New Hanover County 911

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH -- An important change is going into effect in Wrightsville Beach. You will no longer have to call the police in case of emergency. Instead, simply dial 9-1-1. At 6:30 Wednesday morning the town will switch over its in-house dispatch to New Hanover County 911. The current dispatch center will be manned 24 hours a day until Friday evening. Then the police department's business hours will change, opening from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wrightsville Beach police say aside for the phone number residents probably won't even notice a change. Wrightsville Beach Police Chief John Carey said, "It's going to be really not noticeable for the residents as far as the safety factor. It is a greater safety factor for our officer's because of the technology that's available through the 911 center." Chief Carey says the turnover will save the town nearly $150,000 a year. Three dispatchers will lose their jobs, but Chief Carey says they've been given three months severance and continuing insurance coverage.