Dispatch of Field Responders

After an event is dispatched, field personnel are sent to the location of the incident. The primary dispatch method is the Greensboro-Guilford-Burlington 800 megahertz (MHz) trunked public safety radio system. With more than 7,000 users on the network, this system allows for integrated and coordinated radio communications among all components of Guilford Metro 9-1-1, various City and County departments, and other public safety agencies in North Carolina.

The 800 MHz system provides a high grade of service, effective radio coverage, and a flexible method to coordinate response during routine and emergency circumstances. Many of the public safety radios used in the system are digitally encoded. The dispatch of law enforcement calls for service are typically broadcast by the telecommunicator handling that particular law enforcement entity. Additionally the data in the CAD system is electronically transmitted to Mobile CAD Terminals (MCTs) in the law enforcement units.

Mobile CAD Terminals

As the CAD event data is updated, the information displayed on the MCTs is also modified. To accomplish this data transfer quickly, the Greensboro Police Department uses a private data network, while the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department uses the statewide Criminal Justice Information Network (CJIN).

All EMS calls for service are also dispatched simultaneously over both the 800 MHz radio system and the countywide UHF radio paging system. Additionally all Guilford County EMS units are equipped with the same MCT technology as the Guilford County Sheriff’s vehicles (with data transferred through the CJIN system as well). Therefore EMS personnel also receive the same CAD updates. As a secondary method of notification when each EMS call is dispatched, the CAD system pages the units responding to the call for service. The text page includes call type, the location / address of the incident and other details which can assist the EMS personnel in their response.

Calls for fire service incidents for all Guilford County fire departments are also dispatched via the 800 MHz radio system, the Zetron paging system and digital text paging. County fire apparatus are not currently equipped with MCT technology. Greensboro Fire Department personnel and apparatus are directly dispatched via the 800 MHz radio system and also use both the CAD-based MetroCall paging and City of Greensboro MCT network.