COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
Eufaula Police Department Communication Officers are the hub of the department. The communications division is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The communications officer answers the emergency (911 for city and county) and non-emergency phone lines as well as the police radio.
Communication Officers are often the first person the public has contact with when emergency assistance is needed. When answering a call, the communication officer must obtain important information, which is used to classify and prioritize calls for service. The information gathered is entered into a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and also provided to the responding unit and /or agency needed. One of the primary functions of a communication officer is to maintain contact with field officers in order to maintain officer safety. A communication officer must give accurate and timely information for both the safety of the officer and the community. Communication Officers also perform checks via a nationwide plus Canada database known as National Crime Information Center (NCIC). NCIC is a computer system regarding wanted or missing persons, stolen property and vehicles, as well as criminal history and drivers license information on individuals.
Working in the Communications Division is a demanding job that requires a great deal of multi-tasking. Eufaula Police Department Communications Division answered an average of 35,277 local police calls for service for the year 2010 and averages 1200 to 1500, 911 calls per month. Eufaula Communication Officers are highly trained, requiring 24 hours of training every two years, 54 hrs of Basic Telecommunications training, 32 hrs of Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) training, 16 hrs of NCIC training, and CPR certification.
The Eufaula Communications Division employees 13 fulltime and 1 part-time Communication Officers and is under the direction of Sgt Robert Vickers, a 30-year veteran of the Communications Division, PCO Jennifer Johnson (16 years) Assistant Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC), PCO Veronica Canada (15 years) COT and Telecommunications Instructor, and PCO Marie Walker (8 years) Communications Training Officers (CTO), and Ursula Collins (10 years) Emergency Medical Dispatch Instructor.
Why do Communications Officers ask so many questions?
Communication Officers are trained to ask a wide-range of questions that will assure a safe and timely response to emergency and service related calls. They must ask these questions in order to determine the type of assistance required for a call. The information obtained is transmitted to the responding units/agencies so that the call can be handled properly and safely. Callers need to be patient and answer all questions being asked as accurately as possible. These questions are being asked for a reason. Help is being sent simultaneously as the communication officer takes your information.
When Should I dial 911?
You should dial 911 for ANY Police, Fire, or Medical Emergency – threat to life or property.
What should I do when I call 911?
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Remain Calm
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Give correct address of your emergency and the phone number you are calling from.
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Stay on the phone with the communications officer. DO NOT HANG UP until the dispatcher advises you to. The dispatcher may keep you on the phone until help arrives at your location if necessary.
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REMEMBER – help is on the way as you are speaking to the dispatcher.
What if I dial 911 by mistake?
DO NOT HANG UP! Wait for the communications officer to pick up the line so that you can advise that you called by mistake. If you hang up, the communications officer will send a police officer to your location to ensure that everything is ok.
CONTACT INFORMATION: (334) 687-1200
Sgt Robert Vickers (Communications Supervisor): rvickers@eufaulaalabama.com
Jennifer Johnson (Assistant TAC):
Veronica Canada (CTO/Telecommunication Instructor):
Marie Walker: (CTO)
Ursula Collins (EMD Instructor):
ucollins@eufaulaalabama.com