Communications Division
The Shelton Police Department Communications
Center is located in the Shelton Police Department
Headquarters. The
Communications Center answers all routine and E-911 calls that come into the
Shelton Police Department. The Communications Center is responsible for
dispatching all Police and Shelton Fire Department calls and transferring
all EMS calls to C-MED-New Haven.
The Shelton Police Department Communications
Center dispatches Police and Fire Units to calls using Computer Aided
Dispatching (C.A.D.). Based on the location of calls, the C.A.D will
determine which primary and back-up units should be dispatched for the
fastest response. The C.A.D. system will then send out the call information
to the officer's in car computer, or Mobile Data Terminal (M.D.T.) The
officer will receive the call location, call type, any alerts for the
address, complainant information and will be able to map the location if
needed. The current C.A.D. system, which replaced an AS400 dispatching system, went
live on February 12, 2001.
Currently
there are 6 Full-Time and 5 Part-Time Dispatchers working for
Communications. Dispatchers must pass extensive training and Probationary
periods before being allowed to work on their own. Dispatchers are mandated
to attend a one day 911 equipment training class, three day NCIC/COLLECT
training class, and a two week Public Safety Tele-communicator Training
Program. These classes teach the dispatcher trainee how to use various
techniques on the use of the telephone and radio; Liability Issues, how to
operate the Emergency 911 systems and Telecommunications Devices for the
Deaf (TDD); how to dispatch Police, Fire and Medical calls, how to dispatch
Hazardous Materials calls; to have and understanding of Criminal vs. Civil
laws, including Protection and Restraining Orders and how to use the
National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and COLLECT computer systems.
After attending these classes, the trainee must still go through one hundred
and twenty hours of mandated on the job training.
Shelton Police Dispatchers answer about
150,000 phone calls a year while dispatching almost 29,000 calls for
service.

Do you know when to call?
A call to 9-1-1 should always be a
call for help
When to call 9-1-1
To get help for someone who is hurt
If you see someone taking something
that belongs to someone else
If you see someone hurting someone
else
If you smell smoke or see a fire
Does everyone in your family know
that a call to 9-1-1 from a payphone is free?
Do you know when NOT to call
9-1-1 ?
Never call 9-1-1 as a joke!
Never call 9-1-1 to ask for
information!
Never call 9-1-1 to see if it works.
Remember, if you see any emergency situation, Police, Fire, or Medical, call
9-1-1 first