The central contact point for the Manassas Park Police Department, Fire & EMS services, and the community resides within the emergency services communications center. The center is staffed 24 hours a day by 7 (seven) full-time, professionally trained and certified communications specialists who respond to all emergency and non-emergency requests for police, fire, and EMS assistance. Terminals and software provide access to state-of-the-art systems, which keep the team on top of industry innovations in meeting community needs. There are continuous efforts put forth to increase staffing and training to improve and enhance delivery of services.
During the course of a shift the dispatch center can become extremely busy. A dispatcher must simultaneously answer phones, listen to radio traffic, and provide information to officers. Dispatchers must prioritize calls based on threat to life and threat to property. They are the voice of the victim, relaying critical information and citizen requests for assistance in a fast and efficient manner. The role of the dispatcher is not unlike that of an air traffic controller.
What to Expect When You Call the E-911 Dispatch Center
When you call the Manassas Park Police, you should expect that your call will be answered quickly and efficiently. Non-emergency calls are also answered by our communications personnel. If you are on a non-emergency call, and a 911 call comes in, you may be put on hold until the dispatcher can determine the nature of the emergency and dispatch the appropriate personnel.
Its the dispatcher’s job to obtain information from the caller to determine what the problem is and who should be sent.
You will be asked many questions and it is important that the information is gathered in a short period of time. Asking specific questions is the best way to get that information. Please do not be offended if you are interrupted by the dispatcher.
They are there to help all of us.
