Public Safety Communications / 9-1-1

The Department of Public Safety Communications is the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for York County. As the PSAP, we are staffed 24 hours a day to answer 9-1-1 emergency calls and dispatch police, fire or medical services to those we serve. We are fortunate to have state-of-the art equipment to provide our responders and those needing emergency assistance.

Divisions

The five divisions of Public Safety Communications work together to provide leadership, emergency information and communication technology as well as extensive training to our staff and public safety partners.

9-1-1 Addressing
Administration & Public Education
Technical Services & Radio Communications
Operations (Communications)
Operations Support (Training, Quality Assurance, Accreditation)

Responsibilities

Answers all 9-1-1 calls within York County
Dispatches and coordinates all of the York County Sheriff's Office’s calls for service
Dispatches and coordinates all calls for service for the (19) county and municipal fire departments, (3) Emergency Medical Services, and the Coroner’s Office
Provides 800 megahertz mobile communications network and technical services to all first responders in York County
Provides street naming and addressing services
Provides public education for residents and first responders
Initial and continuing education for staff and partner agencies
Serves as the county's 24-hour warning point for emergency notification from the National Weather Service, Catawba Nuclear Station, and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division
Provides after hours support by answering and dispatching York County Offices of Animal Control, Emergency Management, Department of Fire Safety and the American Red Cross

Accreditation

Public Safety Communications has been awarded accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for successfully meeting all best practice standards of its Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program.

The York County Department of Public Safety Communications is one of 162 stand-alone communications centers to be awarded this accreditation. There are only 8 accredited communication centers in South Carolina.

Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) - Training Program Certification

Training for Public Safety Telecommunicators, initial and continuing, is exceedingly important as they provide essential services to the public in an ever-expanding and rapidly changing public safety environment. The APCO Project 33 Agency Training Program Certification is a formal mechanism for public safety agencies to certify their training programs as meeting APCO American National Standards (ANS). Agencies applying for certification submit their curriculum, training materials and supporting documentation for certification and compliance. The primary objective of the Agency Training Program Certification is to enhance and maintain an agencies training program and professional development for all employees. This program maintains that the agency strives to promote excellence in all areas of training to better serve their communities and reduce liabilities. Agencies must re-certify every three years in order to confirm that they remain in compliance.

Building and implementing a successful agency training program requires many resources and a good deal of dedication. Submitting for certification demonstrates the agency’s commitment to training and to meeting national standards. Receiving certification for a training program is a major accomplishment for the agency, its staff and the community it serves.

The York County Department of Public Safety Communications was awarded this certification in 2018.