PD Communications

COMMUNICATIONS BUREAU

Communications is staffed with 1 Civilian Commander, 6 Communications Supervisors, 20 Communications Specialists and 6 Communications Call Takers.

The Communications Division is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and dispatches the police and fire department to calls for service. Communications also monitors and answers all E911 calls. Many calls require a series of actions and it is the Communications Specialist’s responsibility to ensure that a proper response is generated. A Computer Aided Dispatch system was added in 1993. In June of 1999 we moved into a new Communication Center and went live on a new state-of-the-art channel simulcast trunked radio system.

When should you dial 911? Here are just a few examples:

When someone is sick or hurt.
When your child is missing or you are a lost child.
When you have been or are about to be the victim of a crime.
When you witness an accident or a crime.
If you see smoke or fire.

These are examples of when to call our non-emergency number (954-972-7111) instead.

When there is a time delay in the occurrence of the crime.
When you are not in danger.
When it is not an emergency!

If you dial 911 accidentally, stay on the line, don’t hang up! When a 911 hang-up is received, officers will be dispatched to your home or business.

What happens when you dial 911?

1. A victim Telephones 911


There's been an accident, we need an ambulance.	My house is on fire.	I have been robbed.

2. The call is answered in the Communications Center located in the Police Department

Margate 911 is this an emergency?

OK sir, help is on the way.

3. The Communications Specialist or Call-Taker will ask a series of questions necessary to assist the responding units in locating victims, subjects and vehicles. In obtaining as much information as possible it helps maintain Firefighter and Officer safety. TRY TO REMAIN CALM when calling 911.

4. The call is entered into the Computer Aided Dispatching System.

5. Appropriate units are dispatched to the call. The responding units are tracked from the beginning of the call to its conclusion.