911 Dispatch

The Lake Havasu City Public Safety Dispatch Center operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Dispatchers are the first link in the Public Safety chain. They receive the calls for service, send the appropriate responders, give instructions to assist citizens, and all the while hold the lives of the citizens and the responders in their hands. Dispatchers are the unseen partners of police officers, firefighters and medical personnel. They receive specialized training in communication skills, handling critical incidents, emergency medical dispatching, and multi-tasking, so that they may effectively serve the needs of the community and the first responders.

Using sophisticated radio communication, mobile data browsers, and a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, the Dispatch Center is able to take requests and expedite the dispatch of emergency personnel. Dispatchers take calls for service by phone, both 9-1-1 and non-emergency lines, by radio, from lobby walk ups, and requests from other agencies. In addition, the Dispatch Center is the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for all 9-1-1 calls in the city, including Fire and EMS. They are trained to ask callers specific questions designed to gather critical information quickly to ensure the citizen and the responder the best and safest response.

Often the skill of the dispatcher enables an officer to stop a crime or a firefighter to save a life. The ability to multi-task is a vital part of the Dispatcher's position as they are frequently listening to someone on the phone, assisting citizens after hours, communicating to officers and firefighters, and monitoring multiple radio frequencies, all at the same time. Sorting and prioritizing all of this information takes skill and a unique ability.

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The Dispatch Center provides TDD service for the hearing and speech impaired members of the community and has the ability to connect with a language line to provide translation for over 170 languages.

Currently there are 14 full-time Dispatch positions, two supervisors, and one lead. The Dispatch Center operates with three dispatchers on duty almost 24 hours a day, handling six fire stations and 96 sworn officers. The Dispatch Center handles approximately 14,000 phone calls, 9-1-1 and non-emergency, per month, resulting in over 4000 police and 600 fire and medical calls per month.

Find out more about: (Q & A)

When to call 911

• Situation IN-PROGRESS
• Immediate threat of damage to property
• Immediate threat of harm or loss of life to people
• Little or no time delay between incident and call to 911
• Any medical problem
• Any type of fire

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What questions to expect when you call 911

• WHERE is the emergency?
• WHERE is the caller?
• WHAT is the emergency?
• WHO is involved?
• WHEN did this happen?
• WHY did this happen?
• HOW did this happen?
• Was there a WEAPON involved?
• Are there HAZARDS to the caller or responder?
• Are there any INJURIES or medical issues?

What you should do if you call 911 by mistake

• Stay on the line to verify with the Operator that there is no emergency
• Verify Address
• Verify Phone Number

What number to call if you need the police or fire department but it is not an emergency

• (928) 855-4111
• (928) 855-1171