In a move that caused a ripple of brief disruption among its city departments, the City of Midlothian completed a telephone service switchover on the morning of May 6, affecting several municipal operations including City Hall and the Police Department. Quick to reassure residents, the city's officials confirmed that emergency services were not compromised, as the 9-1-1 service remained steadfastly operative during the transition.

Despite the hitch of a planned phone outage starting at 8 a.m., which was expected to last for an hour or less, the switchover operation was smoothly conducted, however, it did not exempt the non-emergency lines of the Police Department from being temporarily out of service. As stated by the Midlothian Police Department, "Phone service may be affected briefly by the telephone service switchover Monday morning at 8 o'clock. 9-1-1 service WILL NOT be affected."

The need for such a service interruption, aimed at enhancing telecommunication reliability and efficiency, demanded alternative communication channels, hence the city's advice for constituents requiring immediate assistance to use email as a temporary measure. A complete directory was provided online, directing individuals to the appropriate email contact details for city departments.

With the clock marking the end of the disruption, all lines were reported to be fully operational by 9 a.m., following which normal telephone service was restored across all affected city departments. The City's update indicated a smooth transition with an implicit appreciation for the community's patience, further demonstrating an intention to keep public inconvenience at a minimum while improvements are implemented. All pertinent updates regarding the switchover were chronicled on the City’s website and shared across social media platforms.