UT Police Department dispatchers answer the station’s phone lines and serve as the connection between a police officer and a community member who calls for service.

They’ve fielded calls about critters on campus, dead car batteries, crimes, and medical emergencies.

April 10-16 marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. UTPD recognizes the hard work of our dispatchers who staff the department 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

UTPD dispatchers, also called police communications officers, work three shifts—7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.—to ensure around-the-clock service is provided to the Volunteer community. UTPD currently employs 12 dispatchers, including a supervisor and a head supervisor.

In 2021, the UTPD dispatch center received 10,059 calls for service. The number does not include calls initiated by police officers or those related to traffic stops.

UTPD dispatchers are critical to keeping police officers safe. When an officer responds to a call, dispatchers look up information about the person, the location, or the incident so the officer is more knowledgeable about what to expect or how to address the situation. Dispatchers also know the location of officers at all times so they can radio others to assist should an officer need help.