Emergency Communications Division

The Emergency Communications Division (ECD) is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year supporting operations through an ever-changing emergency communications infrastructure. The Division is responsible for answering all administrative calls for the Sheriff’s Office while also answering all 9-1-1 emergency calls and dispatching all emergency responses in Goodhue County. The Emergency Communications Center is truly the heartbeat of the County.

The ECD operates under the command of the Communications Captain, employs 12 full-time Public Safety Telecommunicators (PST). The Communications Captain serves as the PSAP Director with 1 PST Sergeant serving as the PSAP Manager. Together, they provide enhanced NG911 telephone service and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) to assist in efficient dispatching of Police and Fire calls for seven (7) Police agencies, seven (7) Fire Departments and ten (10) Emergency Medical Services. They are the “life-line” to the deputies, officers, and emergency responders. Requests from the responders to contact other agencies are carried out by the Emergency Communications Center. These requests may include contacting utility companies, public works, or assistance from other law enforcement agencies. Being a dispatcher is among the most stressful positions within the Sheriff’s Office.

 The Emergency Communication Division stays innovative by implementing and maintaining mission critical telecommunications, enterprise level databases and modern-day hardware. Employees in the division receive additional training, such as, Incident Tactical Dispatchers (INTD), Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM) and/or Communication Technicians (COMT) when requested. The mission is to ensure information is effectively communicated for safe and efficient service to the community and to properly manage the infrastructure of the Sheriff’s Office for continuous and effective service.

Currently, the Sheriff’s ECD operates and maintains a large 700/800MHz simulcast digital radio system in cooperation with the Southeast Emergency Communications Board and the State of Minnesota. Goodhue County’s simulcast radio network is part of the ARMER statewide radio system. This provides interoperable communications to all 1,200 public safety radio subscribers within Goodhue County and any transient radio subscribers. The Sheriff’s ECD provides users throughout the county with guidance on purchasing new radio equipment, decommissioning old equipment and maintaining current radio communications equipment. The Communications Captain serves as the System Administrator for County’s radio network.