The dispatch center is here to serve our community with a staff of highly skilled and trained telecommunicators, as well as shift supervisors, who work diligently to ensure that all calls received are handled with the proper urgency and attention.
Our dispatchers work swiftly and accurately to ensure that when calls for assistance are placed, the appropriate agencies are able to respond as quickly as possible.
Our dispatch teams work 12-hour shifts and are trained and certified in EMD (emergency medical dispatch), which requires them to provide pre-arrival instructions over the phone as needed until emergency personnel arrive on scene.
The dispatch center serves as the center point of communication for Police, Fire and EMS within its jurisdictions. We are committed to providing one point of contact for all emergency and non-emergency calls within the following communities:
About us
How does my call get to 9-1-1?
When you call from a residential or business landline, the phone number from which you are calling determines which 9-1-1 center you reach. Each 9-1-1 center or Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) has an extensive list of phone numbers that are designated to come to the appropriate call center.
If you call from a cell phone, the procedure is slightly different as cell phone numbers are not associated with one fixed location. Cell phones transmit to the nearest cellular tower and from there your call is routed to the closest 9-1-1 center. The 9-1-1 call center is determined by the location of the cell tower. If you are close to a county or state border, you may get routed to the wrong 9-1-1 center; but don't worry, our dedicated staff will transfer your call to the correct jurisdiction.
TEXTING to 9-1-1
Although voice calling is the best and preferred method for contacting 9-1-1 during an emergency, we understand that at times this option may not be feasible. Macomb County is one of the many counties in Michigan that has implemented text to 9-1-1. To text 9-1-1, simply enter “911” in the phone number text box and state the location of your emergency. If you attempt to send a text to 9-1-1 where the service is not available, you will receive an automatic “bounce-back” message that will advise you to contact emergency services by another mean.
The telecommunicator will answer and ask you the following:
1) Where is your emergency?
2) What is your call-back number?
3) What is your name?
4) What is the nature of the emergency?
To give the best aid possible, make sure that the information you are typing back is accurate. Depending on the nature of the emergency, the telecommunicator will then send police, fire, or EMS to the emergency scene.
Tips for contacting 9-1-1
- Tell the emergency operator "where" the location of the emergency is right away.
- Provide the operator with your phone number (wireless or landline), so if the call gets disconnected, the operator can call you back. They will ask a series of questions, please answer them the best you can. These questions are to help the responders know what to prepare for and saves not just time but possibly lives.
Unintentional wireless 911 calls often occur when auto-dial keys are inadvertently pressed, should this occur please stay on the line and advise the telecommunicator that it was an accidental call. A dispatcher will often ask for your general information and location as a protocol. If you hang up, our telecommunicators are required to call you back to make sure that there isn't an emergency. Staying on the phone when you unintentionally dial the 911 center helps clarify that there isn't an emergency and opens up our phone lines quicker.
Non-Emergency Dispatch Line:
586-469-5502
On Duty Dispatch Supervisor Line:
586-307-9445
Dispatch Director:
Angela Elsey
586-307-9356
angela.elsey@macombcountymi.gov
Dispatch Operations Manager:
Elizabeth Bagos
586-469-7859
elizabeth.bagos@macombcountymi.gov