Communications Division

About

The Scarborough Public Safety Dispatchers provide 24-hour dispatch service to many town departments. The dispatcher’s main priority is to the Police, Fire, and Rescue Departments, where they dispatch, via computer and radio, emergency and non-emergency calls.

The dispatcher is also responsible for answering emergency and non-emergency calls for Public Assistance, Animal Control, Marine Resources, Beach Patrol, Parking Control, Detectives, Patrol Staff, Administration, and Records. Each dispatcher must maintain Enhanced 911 certification, a database phone system which displays the callers address, phone number, and name. This provides the dispatcher with this life saving information immediately, saving time when every second counts. They also maintain Certified Terminal Operator certification, which enables them to operate sophisticated law enforcement computer programs, as well as the ability to access law enforcement nationwide.

Dispatchers must also maintain National Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification. EMD training gives the dispatcher ability to aid those faced with a medical emergency, by giving life saving phone aid to callers, before responders arrive on scene. Since the inception of the EMD program in Scarborough, we are proud to say the program has aided and saved many lives.