Communications 911

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Image of the Dare County 911 Communications Center

The Mission of the Dare County Sheriff's Office 911 Communications Center:

The main goal of the Dare County Sheriff's Office 911 Communications Center is to collect and disseminate information needed during emergency situations in order to protect life, property and the environment.

As the public's first true responder to all area emergencies, our mission is to act as a vital and critical link between local public safety agencies and the citizens that they protect and serve.

We strive to ensure the preservation of life and property by treating everyone who uses our services with professionalism, courtesy and compassion, and relaying accurate information in a timely and efficient manner.

As part of the Dare County Sheriff's Office, our 911 telecommunicators value integrity, personal excellence, honesty, constructive self-criticism, continual self-improvement and mutual respect.

Services Provided by the 911 Communications Center:

The Dare County Sheriff's Office 911 Communications Center offers a fast, effective communications link between the general public and emergency services.

The division provides dispatch services for seven local law enforcement agencies, Dare County EMS and 16 local fire departments, as well as ocean rescue services throughout the county.

Additional services that are dispatched after business hours include:

Public utilities
Public works
Animal control
Dare County Department of Health and Human Services' Social Services Division (for emergency-based calls only)

Telecommunicators serve as the first true responders that are contacted whenever someone is calling for emergency assistance.

The Dare County Sheriff's Office 911 Communications Center utilizes state-of-the-art radio and telephone communications systems, as well as cutting-edge technology to ensure the integrity of the 911 services provided to the citizens of our community. The center serves Dare County's base year-round population of over 37,000, which climbs over 350,000 during the peak tourist season.

The Role of Telecommunicators:

The profession of a 911 telecommunicator is challenging yet a rewarding one. Telecommunicators are the voice behind the radio, the lifeline for citizens and officers alike, and the push that starts the ball rolling.

This role requires skilled emergency service work, which involves receiving and responding to emergency and non-emergency calls for all local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS and ocean rescue -- as well as knowing when we may need to send a combination of these emergency services.

Dare County's telecommunicators are trained to be alert at all times and to determine the nature and urgency of calls while also keeping close contact with field units and maintaining officer/responder safety. This requires a considerable degree of initiative and independent judgment within procedural boundaries in responding to the public reporting a variety of situations.

Join Our Team!

CONTACT

Admin Phone

24/7: 252-473-3444
Fax: 252-473-4563

Captain Jack Scarborough
Director
252-475-5705
JackS@DareNC.com

LOCATION

Communications Center
370 Airport Road
Manteo, NC 27959

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 757
Manteo, NC 27954

FAQs

What should I do if I see a crime occurring?

Call 911 immediately. What is the address the crime is occurring? Be observant and make mental notes. Pay special attention if any weapons are involved. Note physical characteristics such as height, weight, and race. Does the suspect have any distinguishing characters such as a beard, scars, marks, or tattoos? What type and color clothing is he or she wearing? How many people are involved? Are they on foot or in a vehicle? What is the vehicle's description providing a possible make of the vehicle, model, style, color, license plate number? And your contact information as a possible witness to a crime.
Do I have to give my name when I call 911?

If you wish to remain anonymous, just tell the operator.
Why am I asked so many questions when I call for an ambulance?

Our organization utilizes the Emergency Medical Dispatching program (EMD). This program requires our Telecommunicator to ask a series of medical questions in order to determine the severity of the medical condition and response. Based on your answers, the proper level of care and response code is determined. Most importantly, this program allows for any pre-arrival to be provided to the caller who made need medical instructions such as CPR or other critical pre arrival instructions. As mention we are the true first responders for the caller and are able to provide pre arrival care until the emergency service arrives.
When I dial 911, does the Telecommunicator know where I am calling from?

When calling from a cell phone, the name of the registered individual's telephone number and the address assigned to that number displays on our screen most of the time. This information is not 100% reliable and we cannot take the chance of making an assumption it is correct. Be prepared to provide the address of the emergency to confirm. This information must ALWAYS be confirmed.
How can hearing or speech impaired persons be assisted?

The Dare County 911 Communications Center is equipped with TTY/TDD capabilities for those with hearing or speech impediments.
What happens when someone who cannot speak English calls 911?

The telecommunicators have the capability to utilize an interpreter from an outside provider (Language Line).
What Questions Will I be Asked When I Dial 911?
When you call 911, our Telecommunicators will need to know the answers to several questions:
- What is the address of the Emergency?
- What is the telephone number you are calling from?
- Who the caller is calling in the information?
- What is happening that prompted you to place the call to 911?
  1. needing law enforcement (a crime)
  2. needing the fire department (a fire related call)
  3. needing an ambulance (a health emergency)
- Where? Where is the event happening (an exact address is best, if known)? If you're on the beach, can you provide the closest mile marker? If you don't know exactly where you are, can you provide the name of an intersection or a landmark?
- When? When did the event begin, or when did you first notice it?
- Weapons? Can you provide any information if weapons are involved? Let the telecommunicator know if you have seen any weapons or believe that weapons may be present. This will assist alerting responders who are sent to help.
What Should I Expect When I Dial 911?

A 911 Telecommunicator will answer your call and identify the agency you have reached. We will ask you several questions that will assist our division in dispatching the appropriate agency or agencies to respond to the location you have provided.

When dialing 911, we will ALWAYS ask you the address of your emergency. Despite what you may have heard we cannot immediately pinpoint your location based on GPS coordinates of your device. In some cases this information may not automatically be provided especially in the case of cell phone usage. We will confirm the telephone number you are calling from as well to make ensure we can contact you should the phone be disconnected.

Several questions will be asked in order to dispatch the appropriate emergency to assist you. In some cases we may have you stay on the line until help arrives. For medical emergencies we have installed the National Academy Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) program which will allow our organization to provide you with pre-arrival instructions such as CPR, how to control bleeding or even assisting someone deliver a baby.
What is 911 Emergency Services?

911 is a three-digit telephone number that you can use 24 hours a day seven days a week requesting assistance for law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical services.

911 Communications Center consists of a team of professionals who are trained in dispatching emergency agencies to help with your emergency needs.

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