Caldwell County Communications

Communications Director Richard Jenkins

Communications Manager Carla Bates

Non Emergency Telephone: 828-758-2324

The Communication Center answers all 911 calls that originate within Caldwell County. The center provides emergency dispatch services for over twenty agencies in Caldwell County. The Communication Center utilizes one of the most up-to-date, fully integrated radio, telephone and computer systems in North Carolina.

The Caldwell County Communications Center has four console positions that are all configured alike.  Each position houses a variety of communications applications including, Computer Aided Dispatch, access to the Division of Criminal Information, a Digital Recording System for instant call retrieval, a Motorola Computerized radio system, a computerized Telephone system.  Video for door cameras for security, Internet Capability and access to CNN, local news and weather, and other related channels via a cable connection.

The Caldwell County Communications Center dispatches for all Sheriffs Office personnel, all 14 Caldwell County Fire Departments, the City of Lenoir Fire Department, all Caldwell County Emergency Services including Ambulances and Rescue Squads.  The communications center also dispatches for the Hudson Police Department, Rhodhiss Police Department, and on occasion, the Granite Falls Police Department.

The Sheriffs Office also serves as the After Hours Contact for the Caldwell County Department of Social Services, the Caldwell County Water Department, Juvenile Services, the American Red Cross, the Caldwell County Fire Marshalls Office and Caldwell County Animal Control Officers.

Planning for the new communications center began over 2 years ago with a partnership with the Lenoir Police Department.  This partnership allowed for the creation of 9 emergency dispatch positions with 5 stationed at the Sheriff's Office and 4 at the Lenoir Police Department. 

In the fall of 2006, the Caldwell County 911 Center began EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch).  Emergency Medical Dispatch Systems have been recognized as an essential component of effective emergency dispatch. Proper and timely training as well as a sound protocol are what help emergency services deliver quality care to the calling public.  A key component of the EMD system is the ability of specially trained telecommunicators to identify the chief complaint of a patient and send the appropriate level of response in a timely manner as well as being able to give pre-arrival instructions to a caller in life threatening emergencies.

The Caldwell County 911 Communications Center Shift Supervisors and Telecommunicators work 12 hour shift answering 24,000 911 calls and over 120,000 administrative calls each year.

Click on the photos below to see how the communications center has changed over the years with the advancement in technologies.

 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER in the year 2006

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER in the year 2000

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER in the late 80's and 90's.