The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center services all of the agency field personnel, investigators, and specialty units. Additionally, the Communications Center provides 9-1-1 call and dispatch services to all municipalities within the county.

Communications Center Staff

The Communications Center operates with a staff of 24 highly trained and specially qualified Telecommunicators. Communications is the nerve center by which our citizens request emergency law, fire and EMS assistance. The division is divided into two main functions, call processing and dispatch. Your 911 operators are cross trained in all areas of emergency communications functions; including administrative and 911 call processing, Law, Fire and EMS dispatch.

Between January and December of 2021 the Communications Center answered a total of 172,005 combined 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls. During that same time period, over 51,501 calls were processed for Sheriff’s Office units, and an additional 55,857 calls for service for other law enforcement agencies throughout the county.

Kim Lewis

Kim Lewis

Director

Patti Long

Patti Long

Deputy Director

Brian Ross

Brian Ross

Deputy Director

9-1-1 Call Taking

Operators answer incoming calls from the public, determine the nature of the incident and type the information into the computer aided dispatch system. This information is critical to first responders. The computer then routes the call to a dispatcher, who evaluates the call and existing resources and dispatches the closest law enforcement, fire or medical unit.

Calling 9-1-1

When calling 911 you will be asked many questions. Answering those questions will not delay a response so be prepared to answer questions like:

  • What is the address of the emergency?
  • What is your name?
  • What is the telephone number you are calling from?
  • What is the problem?

If you have to call 911 here are some simple tips to follow:

  • Stay calm and speak slowly.
  • Tell the 911 call taker what is wrong and where you need help.
  • Speak up and clearly when the 911 call taker asks you questions.
  • Stay on the phone until 911 call taker tells you to hang up.

If you call 911 by mistake, stay on the phone and tell the dispatcher that everything is alright. A deputy may be dispatched to your location to confirm that everything is OK.

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