Emergency Communication Center

What is an Communications Officer (Dispatcher)?

Communications Officers is the most important public safety professional you may never see. The Charles City County Communications Officers are highly skilled and extensively trained professionals. These professionals are the first link in the public safety chain. They gather essential information from callers, and dispatch the appropriate public safety responders to the scene of the emergency. These professionals take control of situations that are often chaotic, heart-wrenching, stressful, confusing and terrifying. Many of the callers who call 911 are experiencing the worst time in their life. Communications Officers are tasked with obtaining information under extreme situations from callers who may be screaming, crying, hysterical, angry, or verbally abusive. Communications Officers utilize their training and experience to diffuse these situations prior to responder arrival so as to minimize the danger to the citizens as well as the responders.

The Charles City County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center (ECC) is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The professional men and women who make up the ECC undergo stringent, rigorous and unwavering training to achieve certification, as well as continuous training to maintain certifications in:

Communications Officer Basic Academy

Fire Communications

Crisis intervention

Virginia Criminal Information Network/National Crime Information Center

Incident Command Systems

The National Incident Management System

Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

In addition to mandated training these men and women attend training courses, take online training courses, and regularly review and practice skills not used on a daily basis.

WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY?

An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance to protect life, limb and property. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• A fire

• A crime, especially if in progress

• A medical emergency

• A motor vehicle accident

IMPORTANT: If you are unsure whether the situation is a true emergency call 911 and let the Emergency Communications Officer determine if emergency assistance is necessary.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU CALL, OR TEXT, 911:

When you call 911, be prepared to answer the Communications Officer’s questions, which will include:

• “What is the address of the emergency?” The location is the absolutely most important piece of information you will provide. Know where you are at all times so that in an emergency help can be dispatched quickly."

• “What is your name?”

• “What is the phone number you are calling from?”

• “What is the emergency?”

Remember to stay calm and answer the Communications Officer’s questions. It may seem at the time that the questions are irrelevant and a waste of time. However, these questions are important and could mean the difference in life & death, catching the bad guy, or stopping a crime in progress.

REMINDER:

In the event of an emergency please call 911. If you are unable to make a voice call you can send a text message to 911.

CALL IF YOU CAN, TEXT IF YOU CANNOT!!!!