Public Safety Communications Division

The Cedar Park Public Safety Communications Division works in a state-of-the-art Communications Center serving the citizens of Cedar Park with innovation and professionalism. The center provides the highest quality of service utilizing an enhanced 911 System, Motorola 800 MHz Radio System, and Computer Aided Dispatch System that interfaces with Mobile Data Terminals in the field. The personnel who work in the division are committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement. Currently comprised of fourteen (14) Communications Dispatchers, four (4) Communications Supervisors, and a Communications Staff Manager, the division is responsible for all telephone, radio, and Public Safety data services provided to the Cedar Park Police and Fire departments, and as a result, is one of the most important services within the Support Services Bureau.

The men and women who serve as Communication Dispatchers are responsible for maintaining the essential information link between the public and Public Safety services in the field. It is the Communication Dispatchers who typically have the first contact with the citizen, and the decisions they make can dictate the entire emergency response. The Communication dispatcher's job is to listen to the information offered by the caller, ask appropriate questions to discover the nature of the call, assess the information quickly, and then make a decision on how to manage the call. All calls that require the Police or Fire departments to respond to a location are entered into the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) system and prioritized. The calls are then dispatched by radio, or by computer to a mobile data terminal (MDT) to the appropriate officer or firefighter in the field.

The position of Communications Dispatcher is one performed with speed and accuracy under supervised situations and requires a high degree of computer keyboard efficiency. Dispatchers must be able to multi-task and make effective, immediate decisions regarding life-threatening emergencies and situations based on highly complex rules, regulations, laws, and procedures. Dispatchers work under stressful conditions and are expected to prioritize radio traffic and phone calls as they come in. They are there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Dispatchers utilize several systems to aide the citizens, police officers, and firefighters, including the Computer Aided-Dispatch System, the National Crime Information Center System, the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and the Texas Crime Information Center System, and much more.

If you are interested in a career as a Communications Dispatcher with the City of Cedar Park, contact Communications Manager Alicia Bond, or any Shift Supervisor for more information and job opportunities.