Communications officers duties consist of three basic areas:

• Message taking
• Primary dispatching
• Information dispatching

Message takers answer incoming phone calls on 9-1-1 lines, direct police non-emergency lines, police administrative lines and several direct ring lines to other area police, fire and medical agencies. Message takers are trained to handle different types of emergency calls as well as non-emergency calls for police and animal control. Calls from citizens requiring police officer response are entered into a CAD (computer aided dispatch) system by the message taker and sent to the primary dispatcher.

The primary dispatcher then prioritizes all calls for assistance and sends patrol officers to the highest priority calls first using an 800 MHz radio system. He/she also records all patrol officers self-initiated activity such as business and residence checks, motorist assist, citizen contacts and traffic stops.

The information dispatcher also utilizes the 800 MHz radio system to process requests from patrol officers in the field. These requests include ordering tows, contacting other city departments, other law enforcement agencies, citizens or business owners. The information officer also runs inquiries on people, vehicles, guns and other valuable articles through the ALERT (Automated Law Enforcement Response Team) computer system, maintained for local agencies by the KCMO police department and the NCIC (National Crime Information Center).

• Our police department has a unique way to communicate with the public in emergencies.