Communications

Communications
The division now employs eight (8) full-time employees and one part-time employee.

Communications is the heart of any emergency response agency. The Pickerington Police Communications Division provides operator and emergency dispatching service for both the City of Pickerington and Violet Township. Coordination and communication with other agencies is a vital everyday occurrence.

The radio dispatching service in the new facility is second to none and was built to continue to provide excellent communication services with other agencies.

Calls and Service
During 2009 the total number of dispatched calls for service and 9-1-1 service runs was 30,001 of which 7,242 calls were for 9-1-1-.

Dispatching and Data Entry
In addition to their everyday responsibilities in emergency medical dispatching, Communications personnel also serve as deputy clerks of court, receptionists, clerical support, filing, and as records clerks. All organizational reports, court information, and in-coming activity is processed by dispatchers. Technicians handle the collection, review, storage, and distribution of all police and accident reports, citations, affidavits, charges, warrants, and departmental arrest journals.

Records
Carolyn Sharp, Communications Supervisor, is the department’s Custodian of Records. She is responsible for insuring that the department adheres to its retention schedule and must be familiar with the ever changing Ohio Public Records Laws to protect the rights of the public, the department, as well as those of the individual. Mr. Ron McDowell provides copies of reports and also provides the media with public record information when requested.

Records Management
The department upgraded its records management system in 2000. A new comprehensive system was installed to streamline the data entry for personnel matters, reporting, calls for service, and tracking and correlating crime trends. This new records management system reduced the number of different types of software the department had been using to track like and similar information. The software will allow the department to expand its records management and dispatching services in the near future.

Productivity Standards