Dispatchers Peggy O'Leary and Dean Santosuosso at the Dispatch Command Center

The public safety dispatchers are civilian employees who work very closely with the Police Depart ment and the Fire Department. The dispatchers receive all of the telephone calls directed to the Po lice Department. Once the call is received, it is routed to the appropriate per sonnel. If the call warrants a police officer response, then the informa tion is relayed overthe police radio frequency. The information from the call is then entered into the computer sys tem. The dis patcheris re sponsible for the entire movement and control over the police units. In addition to the inhouse com puter system, the dispatchers use a complex computer system called the Criminal Justice Information System. This system allows the dispatcher to provide the officer with information such as license status, registra tion status, war rants, criminal history, driver Like the police de partment, fire calls are entered into the station computer system. This system lets the dispatchers know what units are available for service. In instance where actual fire occurs, the complexity of thejob increases. The dispatcher has to call in fire appara tus from other com munities. They have the ability to contact Med Flight, hazard ous response teams, and other special equipment andpersonnel. The public safety building is also equipped with video surveillance equip ment that dispatchers use. This equipment contains visual views ofthe perimeter of the building as well as the interior of the building. Prisoners are also monitored by the dispatchers. The dispatchers have tele phone equipment that monitor the elevators at Laurel Towers and Heritage Heights.