Frequently Asked Questions

Dispatchers are trained to ask questions. It's what we do! We attempt to get as much information as possible, as fast as possible, so responding units will be properly prepared and fully versed in the situation before they arrive!

For police/deputy-related calls we need certain vital information from the reporting party: Address; reporting party's name; reporting party's phone number; nature of call; weapons involved; alcohol and/or drug use; description of assailant's clothing, ethnicity, sex and assailant's current location. We will need to know if the assailant has left or is leaving the scene; if they are on foot or in a vehicle; if in a vehicle, a detailed description of the vehicle the assailant fled in including color, make, and model (example: A Red Ford F150) and the license plate on the vehicle.

For ambulance calls we need certain critical information from the reporting party: The address of the incident; the reporting party's phone number; the age of the patient and the chief complaint of the patient. The dispatcher will then begin to ask a series of critical questions that follow strict protocols required to assess the patient's status. This is done so that ambulance personnel can bring all the necessary equipment to better assist their patients. Dispatching is a team effort! Most don't realize that while the dispatcher is on the phone asking you all those questions, there is another dispatcher dispatching the emergency units to your location fully equipped with all the materials to help the patient in need. The faster you answer the questions the faster help will arrive and the better prepared they will be to assist you during the crises at hand!