9-1-1 COMMUNICATIONS
Rhonda Shipp Communications Administrator
The mission of the 9-1-1 Communications division is to help save lives and protect property by delivering professional , effective , and compassionate service to the public .
The Dispatch Center serves as the entry point for all calls for emergency services – including fire , police and ambulance – and is a vital component of the City ’ s emergency response system . As a Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies ( CALEA ) accredited agency , we are committed to implementing industry best practices by being policy driven while treating Arlington citizens and visitors with dignity and respect .
OVERVIEW OF DISPATCH
Dispatch Services , a division of the Arlington Fire Department , is a centralized dispatch center that services Arlington ’ s 392,304 citizens .
It is home to over 110 civilian employees . We answer all 9-1-1 , 10-digit emergency and non-emergency calls for police , fire , and ambulance service at one central location . All dispatch employees attend a four-week training academy outlining city and department policies and protocols .
After academy graduation , employees are placed in Calltake or Police Dispatch . Calltake is an additional five weeks of training . Police and Fire Dispatch require an additional nine weeks of training . Our department operates 24 / 7 with three shifts : 6:30 a . m . – 2:30 p . m ., 2:30 p . m . – 10:30 p . m . and 10:30 p . m . to 6:30 a . m . ( including weekends and holidays ). Our team is focused on providing the highest quality of service to the citizens of Arlington and its visitors while ensuring the safety of our field responders .
AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME
91.59 % CALLS ANSWERED WITHIN 10 SECONDS OR LESS
TOTAL CALLS RECEIVED IN 2023
391,935
FIRES 3,881
EMS 39,583
OTHER 11,475
54,939
Fire Calls Dispatched
TYPES OF CALLS IN THE CITY OF ARLINGTON
58,875 259,370 8,706 1,195,184
EMS Calls Dispatched
Police Calls Dispatched
Tele-Service Calls Processed
NCIC / TCIC Transactions