four types of dispatching by 911 operators include directly dispatching all police, fire, medical, or other emergency help; transferring calls to the proper agency; relaying information from calls to the proper agency; and referring callers to the proper seven-digit telephone number once the type of emergency is known. St Louis city and county directly dispatch many emergency services and have 28 separate answering points located at police stations; all other Missouri systems have one answering point at a police department with no back-up, and use relay, transfer, and referral dispatch for all emergencies but police emergencies (police are usually directly dispatched). Many of these 911 systems can transfer calls to crisis counselling, poison control centers, or hospital emergency rooms. Only one lawsuit has arisen out of 911 service in Missouri. Counties and cities using 911 range in size from 12.66 to 510 square miles, servicing 2,500 to 1.8 million persons. Average areas and populations are 150-300 square miles and 25,000-50,000 persons, respectively. The systems went into operation from 1972 to 1980. No 911 legislation has been passed in Missouri, although most planners agree that 911 installation and use is best encouraged by state legislation mandating implementation or planning. Moreover, no feasibility study of 911 has been done in Missouri. Charts and tables are included.