Communications

For Urgency Without Emergency Dial:
256-722-7100

911 Overview Video

Communications is a part of the Huntsville Police Department under the command of Captain Vince Dauro. It is made up of three shift supervisors, thirty-two dispatchers, and four call takers. Each shift is manned 24 hours a day by at least four dispatchers and one call taker and is located at the Madison County 911 Center. A Computer Aided Dispatch System is used to ensure professional, timely, efficient police response to the citizens of Huntsville.

How To Call 911 Effectively

What are Emergency calls?

Crimes in Progress
Life Threatening Situations
Fires
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Injuries requiring emergency medical attention
Hazardous chemical spills
Smoke detector or Carbon Monoxide Detectors sounding
Sparking electrical hazards
Smoke in a building
Any other EMERGENCY

Communications handles emergency and non-emergency calls for service, dispatches police units to calls, processes field events, and maintains and monitors radio contact with officers in the field. Training is long and arduous, the job itself is high-paced and stressful, but it is an exciting, ever-changing career for those who are interested in helping people and being involved with law enforcement.

What are non-emergency calls?

It is not an emergency when the situation is not dangerous and immediate action is not necessary.

Break-in to a vehicle (when suspect is gone)
Theft of property (when suspect is gone)
Vandalism (when suspect is gone)
Panhandlers
Cars blocking the street or alleys
Power Outages

Information about school closings, road conditions, directions, etc.

Directory assistance

Information about paying parking tickets

When you're bored and just want to talk

The employment process for communications will begin in the Spring… if you are interested in becoming a dispatcher for Huntsville Police, submit a job interest card to Human Resources.