Stillwater Central Communications Center
 "2004 Oklahoma Communications Center of the Year"
 by O.S.L.E.C.A.

Lisa Murrell
  "2004 Oklahoma Dispatcher of the Year"
by O.S.L.E.C.A

The Communications Specialists' primary responsibilities are for the residents of both, the City of Stillwater and Payne County. However, as the local public safety answering point for the area, they also handle 911 calls for surrounding communities that have 911 service but no local law enforcement monitoring abilities. Thus, they also help coordinate fire and ambulance service for a large portion of Payne County. These are the reasons the Stillwater Police Department's Central Communications remains one of 16 in-state warning points for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Warning System for natural disasters and state weather emergencies.

In addition to the 911 lines and multiple radio frequencies, the Communications Specialists answer seven non-emergency phone lines and dozens of in-house extensions. All communications are recorded on a RACAL 48 channel digital logging recorder which records 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In 1996 alone, Central Communications answered about 7,200 911 calls and tens-of-thousands of non-emergency calls.

Central Communications (in conjunction with the Detention staff) is also responsible for building security after business hours and on weekends. Thus, the Communications Center is equipped with not only jail monitors, but also interior and exterior surveillance cameras.

Training

In order to become members of the Stillwater Police Department's Central Communications, our Communications Specialists go through a difficult, 4-month training process. The first month consists of a series of in-house classroom lectures during which time Communications Specialist Trainee's become Certified Communications Officers  through the Association of Public Safety Officials Basic Telecommunicators Course, APCO Fire Communications and APCO Emergency Medical Dispatching certification.   The APCO certifications are then followed by another series of classroom lectures detailing Stillwater Police Department's policies and procedures, geography, TDD training, call taking, radio procedures, etc.  Finally, this portion of their training concludes with "hands-on" training on our CAD software.

The next three months of a Communications Specialist's training consists of four different phases of practical experience. The trainee will move to one of three shifts (Day, Evening, or Night) during each phase and will be trained by an A.P.C.O. certified Communications Training Officer. Listed below is our current schedule of phase training and their respective main topics:

PHASE I - 4 Weeks                  

• Radio procedures

• In-house phone system
  General familiarization

PHASE II - 3 Weeks

• Non-emergency calls-for-service
• Teletype procedures
• Multi-tasking skills

PHASE III - 3 Weeks

• E-911 procedures

PHASE IV - 2 Weeks

• Evaluation only

Throughout each phase, the Communications Specialist trainee builds upon their classroom training, practical experience, and whatever knowledge, skills, and abilities that they bring to the position in order to daily improve themselves and meet the public's needs.

Furthermore, Stillwater's communications personnel receive a minimum of 32 hours of ongoing and in-service training each year. Some of these courses have included:

• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/First Aid
• Emergency Communications
• Critical Incident Management and Dispatching
• Stress Management
• Communications Training Officer Certification
• Teletype Certification
• APCO Instructor Certification
• Emergency Medical Dispatch
• Crisis Negotiations
• Incident Command

While their duties and responsibilities are numerous and varied, Central Communications strives to meet the public's needs, quickly, efficiently, and effectively

If you have any further questions regarding the Central Communications Division or training (i.e. training material, training structure) program, feel free to contact:

Lt. Bruce McDougal
Central Communications Division
P.O. Box 1725
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74076
(405) 742-8301
Email: bmcdougal@Stillwater.org

several Stillwater Central Communications personnel are proud members of these great organizations.


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