About PUBLIC SAFETY Communications

Communications is one of the most important of the support services contained within police departments. It is the division responsible for maintaining the vital link between the public and the Police Officers, Firefighters and Medics in the field. Public Safety Communication Officers, also known as Dispatchers, handle many types of calls and situations daily, from requests for information to emergency and critical incidents. The Dispatcher provides a necessary, indispensable function for the public and the Emergency Personnel alike. All Public Safety Communication Officers are NG911 certified.

Types of Calls

At the Ashland Police Department, the Public Safety Communications Division receives thousands of calls a year. Many of these calls are simple requests for directions, phone numbers and referrals that are handled directly by the Public Safety Communication Officers or referred to other departments for assistance.

Hundreds of other calls result in "calls for service" which require either a Police, Fire, EMS response or other action which needs to be documented. The Public Safety Communication Officers also receives the incoming calls of an emergency nature which require their greatest skills, training, and level-headed thinking to be utilized.