|
|
|
|
911Center
Public
Safety Communications Center
The Herndon Police Department is a nationally and state accredited law enforcement agency located in the Northern Virginia area of Washington Metropolitan D.C. The Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC) is a police dispatch facility housed in the police headquarters at 397 Herndon Parkway. The PSCC uses a state-of-the-art Computer Aided Dispatch system and other communications technology. It is the answering point for emergency 9-1-1 and non emergency (703-435-6846) requests for service.
The center is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays. Eight full time Communications Technicians (CTs) are assigned to the center. Personnel are divided among four squads comprised of two CTs each working a 10 or 12 hour rotational shift schedule.
911 Calls:
Fairfax County is the designated answering point for all 911 calls within the county. When a citizen dials 9-1-1, an emergency call-taker answers the phone at the Fairfax County Public Safety Communications Center located at 3911 Woodburn Road. The call-taker will state "9-1-1 What is your Emergency?" and at the same time a screen on the desk in front of him/her that is connected to the telephone system will display the address of the caller and phone number from which they are calling. This screen is called ANI/ALI (automatic number identification/automatic location identification).
All call-takers have a Computer Aided dispatch (CAD) System which allows them to enter the type of assistance needed, the address, call back number and any additional information that will assist the police, firefighters and paramedics to provide the appropriate level of service as quickly as possible.
A person calling in an emergency should be prepared to answer the following questions:
- Where is the emergency? (In case we are disconnected we know where to send help).
- What number are you calling from? (In case we are disconnected we will call back).
- What is your emergency, police, fire or EMS?
If the call is for fire or EMS the information is sent via CAD to a fire dispatcher located nearby, who dispatches the closest and most appropriate units.
If the call is for police and you live within the Town limits of Herndon, the call is immediately transferred to us and sent via CAD to the appropriate officers.
In either case, the call-takers will want to remain on the phone with callers to secure additional information or to provide important pre-arrival information. This is vital for the safety of responding units and to ensuring that appropriate assistance is dispatched and does not delay unit arrival.
Training Program -- Communications Technicians:
New employees are paired with senior personnel who have obtained the Association of Public Safety Communications Officers certification as a Communications Training Officer (CTO), who provide a comprehensive and structured 12 week on-the-job training program. They remain with the trainer until they have successfully completed the training program and are fully qualified in all aspects of receiving, classifying and processing emergency calls for service.
New employees are also required to successfully complete the Compulsory Minimum Standards Dispatch Course and Teletype Operator Course mandated by the Department of Criminal Justice Services within their first year of employment. After qualifying and demonstrating proficiency, employees are assigned to a shift.
Public Safety Communications is an exciting and a rewarding career that demands dedication from its personnel.
The Herndon Police are always looking for people interested in pursuing this as their career choice. Please go to the Town's Job Openings Page or contact the Human Resources office at 703-435-6817 or the recorded job line at 703-481-1185.
|
|
|
|
