Staffing

The Communications Division is staffed 24/7 by civilian Dispatchers. Staffing includes one Communications Manager, one Lead Police Dispatcher, and five Police Dispatchers.

Paradise Valley Police Dispatchers are the first of the first responders helping citizens.

What to expect when you call the Paradise Valley Police Department

If you have an in progress life-threatening emergency such as a serious injury or illness, or you witness a crime that is in progress or has just occurred, dial 911. If the reason for your call is not an emergency, call the "Crime Stop" non-emergency number 480-948-7410. 

• You will be asked to provide your address, name and a contact phone number
  • Have every family member learn their home address
  • Be aware of where you are when you are not at home
• Be prepared to briefly describe the reason for your call and answer any questions
• Please stay on the line until the call taker notifies you it is okay to hang up
• Be patient; at times the Dispatcher may be assisting others. However, your call is very important to us and will be handled as quickly as possible

Please do not call 9-1-1 to ask for the non-emergency number. That number again is 480-948-7410.

If 911 is accidentally dialed, please remain on the line to advise the Dispatcher that it was accidental. You will be asked to provide your location and give verbal confirmation that you do not have an emergency. If you hang up prior to confirmation, the Dispatcher will have to call you back which can interrupt the process of other incoming emergencies. 

If you are ever in a situation where it is not safe to speak on the phone, you can utilize TEXT-to-9-1-1 by sending a text message from your cell phone to the number 9-1-1. Similar to when calling you will be asked to provide your exact location and a description of your emergency. Reply as best you can to any questions asked of you. For more information click here: Text to 911 Information

Dispatcher Responsibilities

Paradise Valley Police Dispatchers are responsible for:

• Answering E9-1-1 lines, non-emergency "Crime Stop" lines and, internal administrative telephone lines
• Monitoring incoming activations for all resident alarm systems that are linked through the Town’s alarm program
• Dispatching and communicating with the on-duty Officers while making entries into the department’s computer system
• Utilizing various criminal justice databases to obtain needed information
• Querying via computerized links to the Phoenix Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles, as well as databases maintained by other states and the FBI
• Verifying the validity of arrest warrants and other court orders
• Entering stolen property into a nation-wide database
• Receiving and sending messages to other local, State, or federal law enforcement agencies via the computer system

Additional Dispatcher Duties

In addition to their primary role, each Dispatcher is assigned one or more ancillary support tasks. Examples of these include:

• Entering traffic and parking citations into the computer system
• Entering wanted persons and stolen items into the nation-wide database
• Administering the various radio, telephony, and security systems
• In-person assistance for police reporting in our lobby

Required Experience

When an opening occurs, the department seeks only those individuals with at least two years of previous public safety dispatching experience. This ensures that only highly qualified personnel are hired. To view current employment opportunities please follow this link: Employment Opportunities

Other Numbers to Call

Need to report something but you’re unsure of town limits? Please view this jurisdiction map to see if PVPD is the correct agency to contact: Paradise Valley Jurisdiction Map

Some common reasons that people may call 9-1-1 are best suited to be handled by other agencies. Click here:  External Contacts