Pocatello Dispatch Center
The Pocatello Police Departments Communications Center is a
state - of-the-art facility utilizing new technology and human resources to
provide the best service possible.
The Communications Center is staffed by Dispatch Supervisor
Sandie Huerta, four Lead Dispatch Supervisors and eight full-time telecommunicators.
The Center is responsible for a multitude of duties. The most important duties
are 9-1-1 communications, law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services
(EMS). Telecommunicators are cross-trained and may work as a call taker, police
dispatcher, fire dispatcher or EMS dispatcher all within the same shift.
The 9-1-1 system was the first enhanced 9-1-1 system introduced
into the State of Idaho. All 9-1-1 calls directed to the communications center
show the phone subscriber's name, address and phone number. This eliminates
unnecessary confusion and delay when the caller can't tell the telecommunicator
what the address is. Emergency response teams can be sent out quickly saving
precious time.
Most police action originates within the Communications Center.
The center is responsible for dispatching police officers, assisting officers
with their needs and helping the public.
The Communications Center also handles fire dispatch responsibilities.
They are the direct link to the firefighters during working fires and other
fire related emergencies.
Telecommunicators are Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certified.
This important qualification allows medical dispatchers to provide life saving
pre-arrival instructions such as CPR instructions. Several "saves"
have been made by the telecommunicators. While the bulk of the EMS dispatching
is for the Pocatello area, the Communications Center is also a regional dispatch
center for outlying ambulance services and Quick Response Units (QRUs).
The technology in the Communications Center includes a Computer
Aided Dispatch (CAD) which has been online since May 1997. This system includes
an integrated Records Management System. All official reports are included in
the data base.
The data base is shared with the Bannock County Sheriff's
Office and the Chubbuck Police Department. The data base currently holds more
than 100,000 names and additional files are added