The Communications
Unit consists of nine communications officers and one supervisor. The
unit is responsible for receiving and dispatching 9-1-1 and
non-emergency calls for the Sheriff's Office, nine municipal law
enforcement agencies and six fire departments.
In addition to
receiving and dispatching calls for service, communication officers
enter warrants and ex-parties into the statewide computer system,
provide emergency medical instructions on necessary, handle all radio
traffic to the center and monitor security cameras for both the
Sheriff's Office and the Justice Center.
The Communication
center has three working consoles with room for three additional
stations. The center is manned 24/7, with two dispatchers working 90%
of the time. Some of the equipment in the center includes 9-1-1
telephones with maps and instant retrieval capabilities, radio consoles,
security camera, weather monitors and telephones, computer aided
dispatch, and state wide computer system.
In 2004 the
Communications Unit took 25,020 calls for service, 13,496 9-1-1 calls,
66,329 non-emergency calls, and received 3,355 warrants from the
courts.
A communication
officer for the Sheriff's Office must be 18 years of age, have a high
school diploma or equivalent. Communication Officers in the State of
Missouri must now be certified. Agencies, like the Sheriff's Office,
that dispatch for police, fire and emergency medical services, must have
40 hours of initial training and 16 hours every 2 years, to remain
certified. In addition to state certification, communication officers
must be certified for use with the statewide computer.
9-1-1
When calling
9-1-1 in Cass County, depending on your location, the call can go to 1
of 5 agencies:
- Cass County Sheriff's Office
- Belton Police Department
- Raymore Police Department
- Harrisonville Police Department
- Pleasant Hill Police Department
If you live outside
one of the above cities, your call will go to the Public Safety
Answering Point (PSAP) that dispatches for your ambulance service, or to
the Sheriff's Office. It is also possible for you to be served by two
different fire and/or ambulance services.
Things to know when calling 9-1-1:
- Know the name of your emergency service department.
- When asked where your emergency is, you can tell the communication
officer which agency you need and your location.
- Know the closet cross streets to your address. You may want to have your
address and cross streets taped by all your telephones. In an
emergency, the simplest information can be forgotten. This will also
help small children who call 9-1-1.
- When reporting a crime to the police, describe the suspect's clothing and
physical characteristics to the communications officer. If there is a
vehicle involved describe by color, year, make, license information and
direction of travel.
- When reporting a fire, tell exactly what is burning, also relate the exact
address or location, if anyone is in the structure and if there is a
danger of explosion from combustibles. Move out of danger while waiting
for the fire department to arrive.
- When calling in a medical emergency, give your mane and address just as you
would on other 9-1-1 calls. Describe the medical problem in detail. Be
prepared to answer the following questions which will help the classify
the call:
- Is the patient awake or conscious?
- Is the patient breathing?
- Are you with the patient?
You may then be given instructions to help the patient until help arrives.
DO'S AND DON'T FOR 9-1-1
- DO use 9-1-1 for emergency calls, in progress crimes, medical emergencies,
and fires.
- DO NOT use 9-1-1 for routine calls, transports to hospitals, to obtain
phone numbers, to see if someone is in jail, to see how much a ticket
is, etc.
- DO NOT call 9-1-1 when the power goes off or the weather is threatening.
DO call the utility company and monitor television or radio for weather
information.
- DO NOT call 9-1-1 and hang up when we answer. We must then call you back
and send deputies to check on you.
- DO NOT play with 9-1-1 or make false calls. It is a violation of the law.
- PARENTS: DO teach children how to use 9-1-1 wisely in case of an emergency.
REVIEW OF HOW TO USE 9-1-1:
- Dial 9-1-1.
- The communications officer will answer " 9-1-1 Where is your emergency? "
- Tell them which police, fire, or ambulance you need and your location.
- Briefly tell what the problem is.
- Give your name, address and telephone number.
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