Dispatch - Communications Unit

The Communications Center is the heartbeat of the Police Department. Communications receives several 9-1-1 calls a day. Of those calls, approximately one quarter to one third are emergencies. In 2004 Corcoran dispatchers handled more than 22,000 calls for service and officer initiated incidents.

MDT's (Mobile Data Terminals) are installed in many police vehicles. Officers with MDT's can immediately receive reporting party, address and other pertinent information over their computers that may be confidential in nature and cannot be heard by criminals. MDT's have the capability to check vehicle registration and driver's information.  Communications personnel will still have to perform inquires for officers when they are out of their vehicles.

All entries into the Department of Justice and NCIC files of stolen vehicles, property, guns aircraft, boats, securities, snowmobiles, missing persons, restraining orders, and sex and arson registrants are done by Communications personnel. A new system, Violent Crime Information Network, became available to law enforcement last year. This year the Violent Gang and Terrorist Organization file has become available for agencies to exchange information of groups and activities. Contact with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Interpol can be done by Communications personnel, through the Department of Justice.