Police Communications Unit

In the early 1920's, actual Radio communications was first used experimentally. The equipment worked only one-way and was probably surplus World War I units. By 1928, Radio communication became standardized in all street patrol vehicles and a formal Radio Room was established.

One-way broadcasting continued until as late as 1942, when a second frequency allowed for two-way communication from the street to the dispatcher.

As frequencies changed and broadcast bands were added, the complexity of the system also changed and grew. Card systems gave way to computers and (later) interfacing with others systems allowed for needed and timely information for street patrol. Now, we were not only dispatching assignments but also providing vital services to our patrol.

Today, our new system brings us into the 21st Century with quality, expandability and features we never had before. We've allowed for growth and upgrading in its installation. Already, we are preparing for the future and it seems limitless.

9 -1-1 INFORMATION
The Philadelphia Police Department receives nearly three million 9-1-1 calls each year. When calling 9-1-1, the call is routed to the Police Radio Room in Police Headquarters, within seconds, to an available call-taker waiting to respond. A computer displays the telephone number, name and address associated with the telephone being used to call 9-1-1. There are 261 Police Communications Dispatchers and 40 mid and upper level supervisors working in Police Radio.

This feature is especially helpful for persons with speech impairments, child callers or elderly persons whom are unable to fully communicate their message or someone in an urgent or dangerous situation who is unable to speak on the phone. In cases where the caller is using a cellular phone, it is very important to provide the location of the incident immediately.

The call-taker is required to give his/her dispatch number when answering a call for service. Listen for that number. Should a problem be encountered with a call-taker when calling 9-1-1 - or the service received is unsatisfactory - PLEASE dial 9-1-1 again and ask to speak with a supervisor; when speaking with the supervisor, provide the dispatch number along with the complaint.

The call-taker will ask vital questions while taking the information to assess the situation. The call for service is then assigned a "Nature Code" based upon the circumstances described in the incident.

The call-taker enters the information into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, which routes the call to the correct geographic police console for dispatching. The CAD system prioritizes the call and selects the closest police vehicle available to respond. During 'Crimes in Progress' assignments, the Police can be dispatched as the caller remains on the phone providing additional information.

When calling for a medical emergency or to report a fire, the caller is instructed to stay on the line, as the call is speed-dialed to Fire/Rescue. A Fire/ Rescue dispatcher will get on the line and ask pertinent questions to determine what type of Fire/Rescue response is required.

Police Radio is also equipped with Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) to enable hearing impaired persons' access to the 9-1-1 system. In addition, a language line is available to translate over 140 languages on a 9-1-1 call.

To increase our patrol efficiency, the Differential Police Response Unit (DPR) handles calls (not in progress) by telephone. The Unit is staffed by limited-duty (injured) officers. Types of complaints referred to DPR for service include: - Abandoned automobiles, defective street lights, theft of auto accessories, sanitation complaints, harassments, lost property

Necessary information is initially recorded by the call-taker and the caller is informed that someone from the DPR Unit will call them back in a short period of time.

TIPS FOR CHILDREN WHEN CALLING 9-1-1
1. Dial "9", then "1", then "1"
2. Speak Clearly and Slowly
3. Give Address of Emergency
4. Tell what the Problem Is
5. Answer the Questions Asked by the Operator

9-1-1 CALL-TAKERS' CHECKLIST
Taking the time to call 9-1-1 to report - or prevent - a crime is appreciated. To best serve each call, the call-taker needs as much information as possible and will ask necessary questions to assess the situation:

• WHAT HAPPENED?
• WHERE?
• DESCRIPTION OF PERPETRATOR (S)? - Sex? - Age? - Race? - Hair Color? - Height? - Clothing? - Weight? - Weapons?
• DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE AND DIRECTION (if applicable)? P
• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WOULD HELP IN CAPTURING THE SUSPECT?