The Communications Division of the University Police Department is a part of the Administrative Section.  This Unit handles all phone, radio, and referral calls for service. 

Emergency calls (911 or 572-7777) and non-emergency calls (572-5500) are received and then prioritized.  Calls of an immediate, life threatening nature receive the highest priority.  Officers are sent to or diverted from other calls when a higher priority response is required.  A digital recording system allows immediate play - back of all telephone and radio transmissions coming into the communications center – allowing Communications Officers to quickly replay messages whenever necessary.  In addition, a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) is used to assist hearing-impaired callers.

Employees of the Communications Unit are fully trained and certified by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training.  Initial certification training requires 160 hours of classroom and practical exercises in all forms of emergency and routine public safety communications.  Communications Officers are then required to attend 16 hours of in-service training each year to maintain their certification.  Yearly in-service training offers many specialty-training areas such as hostage negotiations, domestic abuse, and critical call handling.

Return to DPS Personnel Page