Cattaraugus County 9-1-1 Center

The Communications Division of the Sheriff's Office includes the operation of the Cattaraugus County 9-1-1 Center in Little Valley. The division is under the command of Captain Joseph Grube. He supervises 17 full and part-time emergency services communications specialists as they operate the communications system for the county. The Communications Division also manages the county's Enhanced 9-1-1 telephone system that includes public safety answering points in the Cities of Olean and Salamanca. The main 9-1-1 center in Little Valley has dispatch responsibilities for the 36 volunteer fire departments and EMS services, all law enforcement agencies serving Cattaraugus County, and several county agencies such as the Department of Public Works and the Health Department.

The communications center has direct contact via radio with every police agency in Cattaraugus County, as well as all the surrounding counties. The communications center acts as a central answering point for most of the local police departments. 9-1-1 calls for the entire county, with the exception of the Cities of Salamanca and Olean, are also answered in the communications center. The 9-1-1 Center is also the answering point for all Cattaraugus County Wireless 9-1-1 calls, utilizing current technology to provide the highest level of service possible.

In 2002, the Communications Center started a "Rip and Run" system. This system allows printed copies of newly reported incidents to be quickly sent to the responding agency's station, providing them with additional information about the type of call, enhanced address data, information about potential hazards in the area, and certain "pre-plan" information. The system has been well received by the county fire and EMS agencies, and has been installed in nearly every station in Cattaraugus County.

The Communications Division handles thousands of police complaints, ambulance requests, and fire calls each year. The dispatchers also assign complaints to department members, and begin the records management process for all incidents are report to the Sheriff's Office and several other police, fire and EMS agencies. Members of the Communications Division also handle some of the day-to-day record keeping for complaints, warrants, and orders of protection. The Sheriff's Office has also recently added a program called "Are You O.K.?" in cooperation with the Cattaraugus County Department of Aging. This program calls participating elderly or homebound people to check on them each day, and sends help if they do not answer. For more information about the "Are You O.K.?" Program, e-mail Capt. Joseph Grube or call him at the Sheriff's Office. For more specific information about 9-1-1 and how it works, visit our 9-1-1 pages.

The Communications Center is currently working through a renovation project where nearly all center equipment is being replaced in order to accommodate additional calltaking positions. This project is due for completion in late summer 2005.

Training for our emergency services communications specialists includes APCO International Basic Telecommunicator and EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch) Certifications, First Aid and CPR Certification, and localized training on issues important to emergency services in Cattaraugus County.