Communications Unit

The Rushville Police Department Communications Unit is staffed with six full-time civilian Communications Officers and several part-time personnel. Communications Officers perform a full range of radio and telephone operational duties within the Communications Center on a 24-hour basis. These officers are required to process and prioritize incoming calls for police, fire and EMS assistance and dispatch those calls expeditiously.

The Communications Officers keep in constant radio contact with officers in the field, directing and supporting calls for service. The Rushville Police Department utilizes a computer-aided dispatch system (CAD) along with multiple other computer systems in their daily efforts.

The computer-aided dispatch system (CAD) is used to process emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire, medical or other emergency services. Communications Officers determine the nature and location of the emergency; determine priorities, and dispatch police, fire, ambulance or other emergency units as necessary.

The Communications Officers also receive and process 911 emergency calls, maintain contact with all units on assignment, maintain status and location of police and fire units, monitor direct emergency alarms, and answer non-emergency calls for assistance. Their responsibilities further include having to update and retrieve information from a variety of computer systems, process requests for information regarding vehicle registration, driving records and warrants, as well as provide pertinent data and information to field officers.

Communications Officers monitor several complex public safety radio frequencies and systems. They also operate a variety of communications equipment, including radio consoles, telephones and computer systems. All Rushville Police Department Communications Officers receive extensive training in various aspects of emergency dispatching, telecommunications, first aid and CPR.

The Communications Division is a Special Operations Division within the Operations Section of the Rushville Police Department. The Communications Division is supervised by Communications Director Christina Keith (ckeith@cityofrushville.in.gov).