Police veteran takes interim role at 911 center

By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer(tennessean) • May 20, 2008 A 36-year Metro Police Department veteran will take over as interim director of the Metro Emergency Communications Center, city officials announced today. Lt. Duane Phillips will take a leave of absence from the police department and replace Terry Griffith, a Metro Finance Department employee who has been the center's interim director since July, Mayor Karl Dean and Police Chief Ronal Serpas said in a news release. Phillips most recently was in charge of all of the North Precinct's investigative operations. “Duane Phillips has spent more than half his life protecting and serving the citizens of Nashville and is in a unique position to understand the critical role the 9-1-1 call center serves as the public’s direct link to emergency responders," Dean said. "He is a perfect fit while we take our time finding the best person to be in this role permanently."