Statement from the Allen County Commissioners on TRAA funding demands.
Fort Wayne, Indiana (December 18, 2025) – The Allen County Board of Commissioners held a press conference this morning in the Rousseau Centre to publicly address a letter that they received from Three Rivers Ambulance Authority (TRAA). In the letter, the TRAA board demanded payment from Allen County for emergency medical dispatching (EMD) services with a due date and ultimatum. The TRAA board gave the county 90 days to agree to one of three payment plans or it would suspend EMD services for 911 medical calls that originate from unincorporated Allen County.
The three payment plans were listed as:
- A one-year contract for $1.6M
- A two-year contract for $800K per year (totaling $1.6M)
- A three-year contract for $400K per year plus $200K for the remainder of 2025 (totaling $1.4M)
The Commissioners are concerned about the random nature of the funding demand since they had originally been asked for $400,000 for what TRAA deemed adequate to cover EMD-assisted calls from the county.
During the press conference, the Commissioners explained the history of TRAA, a quasi-government entity based on the “Public Utility Model,” and its relationship to the Consolidated Communications Partnership (CCP), a separate entity that runs the 911 call center. TRAA’s agreement to provide EMD services is with CCP and not with the county.
Currently when somebody in Allen County calls 911, a CCP call-taker answers the phone and ascertains what kind of emergency exists. If the emergency can be handled by police or fire, then a CCP dispatcher makes sure to dispatch them to the appropriate police or fire department. If the emergency has something to do with a medical emergency or health crisis, the CCP currently transfers the call to an emergency medical dispatcher employed by TRAA. Those individuals provide an extra layer of assistance – they can stay on the phone with the caller, ask additional medical questions about the situation, and offer encouragement and support to the caller who is in throes of a medical emergency. They can also prep incoming first responders on much needed information by providing a situation report and medical history of the injured party.
With the original due date of Christmas Eve looming, the Commissioners were compelled to address the situation and explain the implications of TRAA refusing to take transferred 911 medical calls from CCP. One scenario that helps shed light on the consequences of the threat might include a Fort Wayne resident who drives into unincorporated Allen County to go to work at say, the GM plant or Parkview North Hospital campus. If that person had a medical emergency and called 911, they would not receive Emergency Medical Dispatch services from TRAA because their 911 medical call originated outside of Fort Wayne city limits.
But conversely, if someone lives in unincorporated Allen County, and drives into Fort Wayne for work, school, or shopping, and they require medical assistance, that person would receive that extra level of care an emergency medical dispatcher provides during a 911 call.
Considering the hypothetical scenarios described, Commissioner Ron Turpin observed, “Clearly, TRAA’s proposed action threatens all people in Allen County, including Fort Wayne and the other towns and cities. The Commissioners refuse to be bullied by this shakedown that endangers our residents – and those who visit our county – in such a randomly discriminatory manner. We are mystified by the notion that anyone traveling throughout unincorporated Allen County, including the tens of thousands traveling along interstate 69, should lack the services utilized by those who just happen to be fortunate enough to be in the City of Fort Wayne when their medical emergency arises. This isn’t who we are in Allen County.”
To conclude the joint statement that was read at the press conference and approved by all three county commissioners – including Rich Beck and Therese Brown – Ron Turpin said,
“We have reached out to Joel Benz. We have reached out to TRAA leadership. And we have reached out to Mayor Sharon Tucker who effectively controls TRAA. None of them seem to understand – or quite frankly care – that TRAA’s agreement to provide Emergency Medical Dispatching services is with the Consolidated Communications Partnership, a separate entity that runs the 911 call center, and not with the county. They have all indicated to us that our concerns are ‘not their problem.’
The CCP board is composed of 4 individuals, why aren’t they demanding what we are today? The answer is in the composition of the board: the mayor’s two appointees for the CCP board, the City of FW Fire Chief and Police have refused, as late as two days ago, to act on this: to demand that TRAA fulfill their contractual obligation to the Citizens of Allen County. So, we are stepping in.
We frankly are astounded by TRAA’s and the City’s position. In our opinion there is no other word for what is happening other than extortion. We have tried diplomacy and working quietly behind the scenes to resolve this. We have gotten nowhere. There are times for diplomacy and there are times for more robust action. The Board of Commissioners believes we are at that time. To protect the health and safety of our 400,000 residents and thousands of daily visitors, we have no other choice but to prepare for immediate legal action against the Three Rivers Ambulance Authority. First steps in this direction will be taken at the Commissioners’ Legislative session tomorrow morning. There are other, more aggressive, avenues we can take if we need to and we will pursue those if forced.
This is a great community, and we have many good things happening; this situation unfortunately is an example of a breakdown between governmental units, and we will do all we can to protect the citizens of this county, regardless of where they live. Despite this attempt at financial extortion, we want the public to know that no matter where you live or work in Allen County if you call 911, someone will answer your call, and a first responder will be dispatched.
We will continue to fight for the safety and security of each of you who live, work, and visit Allen County and it is our hope that we can resolve this dispute quickly and permanently.”
The Commissioners requested an extension. Joel Benz, Executive Director of TRAA, consented to extending the due date to December 29, 2025.
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