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DISPATCH

The Communications Division consists of Police Communications Officers, more commonly known to the public as dispatchers, who are the primary answering point for all emergency and non-emergency requests for police. Like the Patrol Division, the Communications Division operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

 

 

  • Responsible for answering incoming calls to the police by way of internal telephone 

  • Collect pertinent information from callers and disseminate that information to responding units or agencies

  • Determine the priority level of requests for services and mitigate those calls that can be handled without a need for committing department resources to a response

  • Operate the radio systems for the police support channels

  • Monitor and dispatch for all police and fire alarm activations

  • Maintain the CAD records of all responses and services provided by the police

  • Process all paperwork, data entry and alert notifications for all missing persons, stolen vehicles, arrested individuals, etc

  • Keep Administration informed 24-hrs a day of noteworthy incidents and emergencies

  • Responsible for monitoring jail cell occupants (via closed circuit television and physical cell checks) to guard against illness or injury

  • Responsible for greeting and providing services to visitors to the police station’s lobby

  • Receive initial calls for services and determine nature, location and severity of emergency or services required

  • Obtain pertinent caller/witness information for current or future investigation of the incident

  • Obtain suspect/crime information, enter into CAD and provide to responding units

  • Dispatch appropriate resources to the incident ensuring adequate manpower on-scene as well as to maintain sufficient remaining coverage town wide

  • Maintain constant contact with persons reporting crimes in progress keeping them calm and relaying that information in a real-time manner to responding officers

  • Broadcast (and receive broadcasts) to/from surrounding communities via mutual aid police radio systems regarding crimes occurring in and around town

  • Maintain radio contact with officers on scene to keep the police officer-in-charge informed

  • Notify additional resources (Detectives, Crime Scene Investigators, Accident Reconstruction, Medical Examiner, Tactical Teams, Administration Staff, etc.) and maintain an accurate information flow with them

  • Provide an effective link to outside support agencies (Fire, Water, Light, Highway, Tow Companies, etc.)

  • Interact with Registry Of Motor Vehicles, Criminal History, National Crime Information Center databases via computer with incident related queries

  • Testify in criminal court as to the authenticity of archived recordings and with regards to actions taken during the call taking/dispatching evolution

  • Support all police department divisions (Detective, Traffic, etc.) with data entry/gathering and other services as needed.

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