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1. Dispatchers - Emergency Responders

In March 2021 Dispatchers officially became classified as “emergency responders” in Kansas after Governor Laura Kelly signed Sentate Bill 40 into law. 

Dispatchers are most often the first point of contact for people in emergency situations and play a critical role in getting help to people when they need it most. 

Senate Bill 40 states that emergency responders now include: law enforcement officers, firefighters, 911 call-takers, emergency medical services personnel, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, public health personnel, emergency management personnel, public works personnel, and individuals with skills or training in operating specialized equipment needed to provide aid in a declared emergency. 

2. Telecommunication Week

Every year during the second week of April, we honor our dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW). 

Emergencies can occur at any time that requires police, fire, or emergency medical services. A prompt response is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property. The safety of our police officers, firefighters, and paramedics is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained from citizens who call the RCPD Communications Center. Dispatchers are the first and most critical contact citizens have with emergency services. They are the vital link for police officers, firefighters, and paramedics by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them information, and ensuring their safety. 

Public Safety Dispatchers of the Riley County Police Department have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires, and treatment of patients. 

Each dispatcher has exhibited compassion, understanding, and professionalism during the performance of their jobs. All citizens of Manhattan and Riley County observe National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our city, county, and citizens safe. 

Below you will find videos created as part of the #IAM911 movement to showcase the unseen work dispatchers do for our community in recognition of NPSTW. 

3. Communications Accreditation

As of April 2022, Riley County Police Department (RCPD) has officially begun the process for the Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). 

“RCPD has held Law Enforcement Accreditation for a long time and we’ve seen the benefit of having those standards,” said RCPD Support Captain Brad Jager. “We want to ensure the same professional level of service to the community with our Dispatchers who are the initial First Responders for Riley County.”

The RCPD Communications Center will undergo a five-phase process to earn Accreditation, beginning with today’s enrollment. A period of internal self-assessment will precede a formal CALEA assessment of implemented policies and procedures with a final commission review and decision to follow. Finally, the Communications Center will be responsible for maintaining compliance and seeking re-accreditation. The Communications Center will strive to comply with all 207 standards of the Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program.

“Our Communications Center is an integral piece of RCPD’s operation and continues to place itself at the forefront of emergency response practice and procedure,” said Interim Director Kurt Moldrup. “Accreditation ensures these standards remain intact into the future.”

The voluntary Accreditation program will provide the Communications Center with a process to internally review and assess its operations and procedures. The program will require staff to collect and analyze important data with the overall goals of ensuring staff accountability, making sound operational and administrative decisions, and promoting leadership within the center. Accreditation in the Communications Center will focus on quality assurance, interoperability, emerging 911 and dispatch technologies, risk analysis, asset security, resource access, contemporary training, and a range of other operational functions.

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, Inc. (APCO International), the leading communications membership association, partners in the development and maintenance of the CALEA Standards for Public Safety Communications Agencies Manual which are subject to ongoing review and revision.

RCPD has held Law Enforcement Accreditation through CALEA since 1991, when it became the first Nationally Accredited law enforcement agency in the state of Kansas.

For additional information or to obtain a copy of a specific standard contact Julia Goggins, the Department’s Accreditation Manager, at (785) 537-2112 ext. 2398.