Communications Unit

Communications Unit

Personnel

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Communications Unit is comprised of 10 telecommunicators and 1 supervisor. There are a minimum of 2 telecommunicators on during each shift, with a relief person to come in during the busiest times. One person handles the radio traffic while the other handles the incoming telephone calls.

Training

Each telecommunicator must complete 40 hours of specialized training, plus they must attend 16 hours of advanced training every 2 years to keep their certification current.

Service Area

The Sheriff’s Office dispatches for the cities of:

  • Buckner
  • Grain Valley
  • Greenwood
  • Lake Lotawana
  • Lake Tapawingo
  • Lone Jack
  • Oak Grove

We do not dispatch any fire or medical services. Those calls are transferred to another agency to dispatch. However, the Sheriff’s Office deputies do respond on those types of calls to assist the appropriate emergency responder.

Duties

The telecommunicator’s main duties include:

  • Answering 911 calls and some administrative telephones
  • Dispatching calls for service to the road patrol deputies and outside agencies
  • Answering requests via teletype for wants and warrants from outside agencies to verify active warrants
  • Numerous other administrative duties

Telecommunicators answer over 7,800 calls each month with 28% of those being 911 calls.

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