Welcome to the Red Bluff Police Department's Communications Center. The Dispatch Center is located within the police department and is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The Center is considered the "hub" of the department because all information flows into and out of it at some point.

The Police Department is budgeted for seven Police Communications Dispatchers and current staffing is at five full time dispatchers. They are responsible for a myriad of duties. Dispatchers answer both emergency and business calls, while efficiently prioritizing each call and coordinating responses by the appropriate personnel. Emergency calls can come into the Dispatch Center in various ways, including the E-9-1-1 system, cell phone transfers, and regular business lines. All E-9-1-1 phone calls originating in the city limits of Red Bluff are routed to this Communications Center. Those 911 calls display the address (location) and phone number of the call's origin. Dispatchers send Red Bluff Police Officers to all 911 calls, including those where the caller stated it was an accident or where there was no one on the line. The Center also has the capability to communicate with citizens who are hearing impaired via T.D.D. (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or via a translation service for non-English speaking callers. In 2006, the Communications Center fielded 4,289 911 calls during the year.

When a call is received and it is determined a police response is warranted, an entry is made into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. A dispatcher is then responsible for sending a patrol officer or other service personnel to the call. The Computer Aided Dispatch system allows dispatchers to track active calls for service and manage on duty personnel. In 2006, dispatchers entered 29,804 calls for service during the year. Call volumes have been steadily increasing annually as the city grows.

Red Bluff Dispatchers work 10-12 hour shifts, and overtime as needed. They work a rotating schedule outside of normal business hours which includes weekends, holidays and nights. Some of the qualifications for a successful dispatcher include the following:

" Ability to remain calm during emergencies and to obtain relevant information from callers who are in stressful situations
" Ability to type 40+ words per minute
" Ability to accurately enter information into the computer system while receiving information by telephone and radio
" Ability to tactfully deal with the public and others

Red Bluff Dispatchers strive daily to promote the Department's Mission Statement and are dedicated to providing needed emergency services to the citizens and visitors of Red Bluff.

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