The Communications Bureau plays a critical role in the delivery of almost all emergency and non-emergency public safety services to the Foster City community.
The Foster City Public Safety Communications Dispatchers are specially trained professionals who perform both traditional and non-traditional tasks. Our Dispatchers are highly motivated and committed men and women that:
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Assist citizens who are victims of crime, who may be involved in emergency situations such as a fire, medical emergency, or domestic disputes; those who are not sure what to do about solving many of the problems that confront them, or who just need someone to talk to.
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Assist Police Officers in the performance of their duties by searching, obtaining, and relaying information the officers need to stay safe while responding to situations that can be extremely dangerous.
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Assist members of the Police Department with searching various national, state and local databases and other sources for information critical to investigations and services to the community.
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Assist the Courts by entering and updating court orders and warrants for wanted persons into national, state and local databases.
Whether answering a call on 9-1-1, emergency, or business lines, or assisting citizens at the front counter of the Police Department; Dispatchers evaluate the situation that is being reported and will:
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Send Police Officers when necessary
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Transfer callers with medical or fire needs to the San Mateo County Public Safety Communications Center in Redwood City for dispatch of EMS and Fire units
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Refer callers to other City departments, public agencies, or private and non-profit organizations.
Our Dispatchers take advantage of various opportunities within the Police Department and the community to embrace the community policing spirit that is a vital part of our Department's philosophy:
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They routinely identify problems within the community and have suggested and developed ways to solve or mitigate those problems.
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Dispatchers participate in department problem solving committees to make the work environment a safe, positive and supportive place to work.
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You can find our dispatchers participating in many community events such as:
These projects and activities have been initiated and completed voluntarily by the Dispatchers. These efforts are in addition to the usual activities normally associated with a police dispatch center, and have had a positive impact on the delivery of police services. Participation in these activities is indicative of the dedication and commitment of the Foster City Police Dispatchers to their co-workers and the effective delivery of police services to the community
The Communications Center, located within the Police Department, is a modern facility utilizing the latest radio and computer technology to swiftly handle emergencies, complaints and concerns. It is the primary Public Safety Answering Point (P.S.A.P.) for Foster City, and we are here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help you. Virtually all incoming Foster City emergency 9-1-1 calls are taken by our experienced police dispatchers, who immediately radio the reported information to Officers in the field, thus enabling a very fast response time. If the call requires a Fire Department or Emergency Medical response, the call is immediately transferred to the County dispatcher to handle, while our dispatchers send a police officer to assist at the scene.
A state-of-the-art Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system enables the dispatchers to access all incident details, previous case, and suspect information in seconds from the computer terminals. They also use computers to access Regional, State, Department of Motor Vehicles, and National Crime Information Systems databases.
Are you interested in a career in Public Safety Dispatching? Click here to find out more information about the hiring process.
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