What happened during my call to the dispatch?

Question

I was just curious to know what exactly happens, or what steps take place when you call the police. For example the other night I called the police at 2AM because my neighbors across the street appeared to be screaming and making way too much noise in their backyard. I called the station, not 911, and asked to send an officer to check it out. Does the officer in the patrol car hear your voice/call? Or is it only the dispatcher and he/she just alerts the officer? -- I could hear the officer's voice and much talking, just curious to know what takes place during such calls.
Thanks in advance :)

I live in a suburban area.

Answer 1

In an area with a larger population, when you call an agency whether directly or via 9-1-1 you usually get a calltaker. Calltakers are people who talk to you on the phone and ask you various questions regarding your call. That information is entered into a computer program called CAD (Computer Aided Dispatching). Once the calltaker gets all of the information from you they complete their entry into CAD and a dispatcher reads the information. Based on the priority of the call, the location, etc. a dispatcher will dispatch that call to a unit/units for response which can be done via a computer in the officers' car or over the radio. At no time does an officer hear your voice or the phone call.

The reason for the difference in calltaker vs. dispatcher is during a high-priority call or multiple calls for the same incident the information can be entered into CAD and the dispatcher can give the information as it comes in. At smaller departments the dispatcher does both jobs which is much harder. As for hearing people in the background you are hearing other calltakers talking to people. If you are hearing officers and "radio talk" then the person you are talking to is a dispatcher (the distinction between calltaker and dispatcher is that a dispatcher uses the radio).

Answer 2

When you make a call, the call taker gets all the information and enters into into a Computer Aided Dispatch program. The call taker then sends the call info to a dispatcher who then determines the area you live in and the specific officers who should respond, and notifies them over the radio. Anything you say to the call taker that they type in will most likely (should) be relayed to the officer. They should not say over the radio who called in the complaint unless you are unable to determine where the situation is and describe it from your location. They will then describe it from your location, which will let all people in (what we law enforcement personnel call) scanner world where the call came from. Hope this helps.

Smaller departments- when you call 911 or the station, you will most likely be talking to the same person that is talking to the officers on the radio, and may even talk to the officers while they have you on the line-if they aren't busy.

Answer 3

When a 911 operator receives a call as soon as the connection is made, a recorder begins recording you call. Then the computer at the Police Department gives them the address and phone # from which the call is being made. Then they ask you for your name First, and Last, so that an N.C.I.C.( National Criminal Information Center) can be run on that Name. If they get a hit, your busted. All information is retained for a period of 6-months to 1-year, depending on the City and/or State you live in.
GOD BLESS/GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 4

no the officer can not hear your call, even if you call 911.
You are talking to a dispatcher normally,

After the dispatcher finishes talking to you, they give the call out on the police radio.

And if you live in a big city area, there will be dozens of dispatchers talking on the phone or talking talking to officers.

Also the dispatchers are listening to all of the police radio calls

Answer 5

If you called the PD directly instead of calling 911, they would not have your address and other info in front of them.

The call taker would take your info and depending on the set up of that center, either dispatch the call themsleves or transfer the info to a Dispatcher.

The talking you heard in the background was probably the radio system or conversations taking place in the center.

Answer 6

All calls are taken by the dispatcher and then assigned to an officer nearest your area. The voices you heard were officers and emergency personnel talking to other dispatchers and to each other.