Public Safety Dispatch

The communications center at South Windsor Police headquarters is the recognized PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) for the Town of South Windsor. As a vital public safety position, it is required that we have minimum staffing of 2 dispatchers on duty, 24 hours a day, every day. All 9-1-1 calls for any type emergency come to the police communications center. The center is staffed by two people 24-hours a day/every day of the year. Calls are tracked and managed using a computer aided dispatch system (CAD). Dispatchers are responsible for dispatching all emergency services to include police, fire, medical, mutual aid and Lifestar. As the only department staffed 24 hours a day in South Windsor, our dispatchers facilitate communications among all town agencies after hours, including Pollution Control, Health Inspectors, Building Inspectors, Town Highway, etc.  In addition to our full time certified emergency telecommunicators, many of our police officers and community service officers have achieved and maintained certification to work in Communications as well.  

Statistical Information

• 24 hours a day / 365 days a year communication center
• 30,117 Computer Aided Dispatches (CAD entries) in 2022 
• 2,653 Medical Assist Calls in 2022

Training

• 16 weeks of training for all new dispatchers in all aspects of emergency service dispatching in-house
• 4 hours of state mandated 9-1-1 system training
• 1 week Basic Emergency Telecommunicator School
• Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) via ProQA software online training
• Periodic training classes are attended by personnel throughout the year in subjects such as:
  • Domestic Violence Call Handling
  • Bomb Threats
  • Critical Incidents
  • Tactical Dispatcher Training
  • Diversity Awareness
  • Advanced Fire Dispatch
  • Advanced Police Dispatch
  • Water/Ice Rescue
  • Suicide Intervention
  • Stress Management
  • Hostage Situations

Primary Equipment

• 9-1-1 Telephone System
• 7-digit Police & Fire Phone System
• Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) System
• Primary Radio Terminal
• Secondary Radio Systems
• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)/NCIC Computer System
• Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) System
• Hospital Status Monitor via Intercity
• Paper Data/File Management

Duties

• Entry of Wanted Persons into Computer System
• Monitor Building/Alarms
• Monitor Prisoners/Processing
• Monitor Building Security Cameras
• Monitor Patrol Units/Specialized Units
• Contact After Hours Contacts (Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Town Buildings, Town Property, etc.)
• Dispatch Police, Fire, EMS
• Provide Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)
• Receive Walk-Up Headquarter Lobby Complaints/Dispatch Appropriate Units