DELAWARE STATE POLICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
Chief William D. Carrow
The Communications Section consists of three 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and the Headquarters Communications Center. This section is staffed by 89 employees and one volunteer, reporting to the Chief of Communications, a civilian manager. The section maintains a budget of approximately one million dollars, and is responsible for:
- Emergency complaint processing and radio dispatching operations
- Data communications and computer system helpdesk operations
- Radio, data, telephone, cellular phone, in-car camera & pager administration
- 800 MHz radio equipment inventory, programming and installation
- Enhanced 9-1-1 administration, database management and public education
The Communications Section compiled the following statistics in 2008:
| Total Incidents Dispatched | 335,862 |
| Total Incidents Handled Without Dispatch | 101,811 |
| Total Incidents Handled | 437,673 |
| Total 9-1-1 Calls Received | 617,908 |
| Miles Saved by Center Handled Incidents | 824,238 |
| Total Admin Calls | 528,068 |
| Mobile Command Center Responses | 43 |
2008 included increased training opportunities for our employees. Supervisor summits were held with specific instruction on key management topics being provided, and several employees participated in the APCO International Conference in Kansas City and the APCO Fall Training Conference in Rehoboth Beach.
The Communications Section continued its enhanced community outreach program. This program involves 9-1-1 presentations to Citizen Police Academies and technical college classes. Open houses were held at both SUSCOM and KENTCOM in 2008, and each was attended by hundreds of school children and local citizens, who were treated to public safety displays, food and tours of the communications center. The Section also continued its Citizens 9-1-1 Academy in New Castle County and received rave reviews.
During 2008 the following Section employees were honored by receiving awards from the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in April.
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Line Supervisor of the Year: Randal Scott Nay (SUSCOM)
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Telecommunicator of the Year: Mary Harvey (RECOM)
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Telecommunicator of the Year: Jonathan Pearson (SUSCOM) (Runner Up)
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Telecommunicator of the Year: Robert W. Hairgrove (KENTCOM) (Runner Up)
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Unit Citation RECOM: Samantha Riale, Nevin Steffy, and Cindy Blair (Runner Up)
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Unit Citation SUSCOM: Heather Baer, Timothy Finkbiner, Dennis Swain, and Bryan Schieferstein (Runner Up)
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Unit Citation SUSCOM: Ethel Robinson, Brian Dickerson, Timothy Finkbiner, Scott Nay, and Dennis Swain (Runner Up)
Communications Chief Bill Carrow continued to serve on the APCO International Board of officers and in August moved to First Vice President. Chief Carrow will become Association President August, 2010. The Communications Section will continue to maintain a high work ethic and provide excellent customer service in 2009.
- Information obtained from 2008 DSP Annual Report -
