Emergency Communications Center

9-1-1 Operations Center: Getting you help when you need it

The pictures displayed on this page are an inside look into the Emergency Communications Center operation, which is the heart of the public safety system for Nashville and Davidson County. The center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is responsible for answering 9-1-1 and non-emergency phone lines. Communications personnel also dispatch Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services to the citizens of Nashville.

Our website will introduce you to the dedicated personnel who keep the system operational and provide a glimpse of what it takes to maintain an Enhanced 9-1-1 facility.

Call taker position
This is a call taker position where all non-emergency (862-8600) and 9-1-1 calls are answered.

Call taker
This call taker is processing a non-emergency call for service.

The call taker console contains three computer monitors:

This monitor is an advanced phone system that allows the call taker to view who's calling and from where they are calling, as well as the ability to obtain frequent numbers called.This monitor allows the call taker to enter in “calls for service” for police, fire, medical and Office of Emergency Management responses. The call taker can also view all pending and active calls for all of Davidson County.This monitor displays a Davidson County map that shows all pending and active calls in relation to geographical locations.

Each of the screens is described below. Click the image to view a larger screenshot.

  • (Left) This monitor is an advanced phone system that allows the call taker to view who's calling and from where they are calling, as well as the ability to obtain frequent numbers called.
  • (Middle) This monitor allows the call taker to enter in “calls for service” for police, fire, medical and Office of Emergency Management responses. The call taker can also view all pending and active calls for all of Davidson County.
  • (Right) This monitor displays a Davidson County map that shows all pending and active calls in relation to geographical locations.

Police dispatching console
This is a police dispatching console that allows dispatchers to track pending and active calls,
as well as police resources such as patrol officers, K9 units, and aviation.

This monitor is an advanced phone system that allows the call taker to view who's calling and from where they are calling, as well as the ability to obtain frequent numbers called.This monitor allows the call taker to enter in “calls for service” for police, fire, medical and Office of Emergency Management responses. The call taker can also view all pending and active calls for all of Davidson County.This screen displays police unit dispatch status. It shows which patrol officer is dispatched to a call for service. It lets the dispatcher know how long the officer has been dispatched on the call, enroute to the call and when arrived on the call.This screen allows police dispatchers to run driver's licenses, driving history, vehicle tags, handicap placards and query Davidson County vehicles.This monitor displays a Davidson County map that shows all pending and active calls in relation to geographical locations.This screen displays an advanced radio system that allows dispatchers to dispatch police within different sectors of Davidson County. Dispatchers have the capability of dispatching in one sector or multiple sectors at one time.

Each of the screens is described below. Click the image to view a larger screenshot.

  1. This monitor is an advanced phone system that allows the call taker to view who's calling and from where they are calling, as well as the ability to obtain frequent numbers called.
  2. This monitor allows the call taker to enter in “calls for service” for police, fire, medical and Office of Emergency Management responses. The call taker can also view all pending and active calls for all of Davidson County.
  3. This screen displays police unit dispatch status. It shows which patrol officer is dispatched to a call for service. It lets the dispatcher know how long the officer has been dispatched on the call, enroute to the call and when arrived on the call.
  4. This screen allows police dispatchers to run driver's licenses, driving history, vehicle tags, handicap placards and query Davidson County vehicles.
  5. This monitor displays a Davidson County map that shows all pending and active calls in relation to geographical locations.
  6. This screen displays an advanced radio system that allows dispatchers to dispatch police within different sectors of Davidson County. Dispatchers have the capability of dispatching in one sector or multiple sectors at one time.

Fire dispatching console
This is a fire dispatching console.

This screen allows fire dispatchers to open any Nashville fire hall to dispatch fire or EMS. This system is referred to as the MOSCAD.

This monitor is an advanced phone system that allows the call taker to view who's calling and from where they are calling, as well as the ability to obtain frequent numbers called.This monitor allows the call taker to enter in “calls for service” for police, fire, medical and Office of Emergency Management responses. The call taker can also view all pending and active calls for all of Davidson County.This is a fire department status screen that shows what tactical operating channels are in use for major incidents, which hospitals are on diversion, which fire vehicle resources are available and which radio channel has a specific call assigned to it.This is a status screen of all fire apparatus and medical units. It shows how long an ambulance has been enroute to a call, arrived on call and enroute to the hospital.This monitor displays a Davidson County map that shows all pending and active calls in relation to geographical locations.This screen is an advanced radio system that allows fire dispatchers to select one or multiple fire radio channels in order to dispatch calls.

Each of the screens is described below. Click the image to view a larger screenshot.

  1. (Upper right corner) This screen allows fire dispatchers to open any Nashville fire hall to dispatch fire or EMS. This system is referred to as the MOSCAD.
  2. This monitor is an advanced phone system that allows the call taker to view who's calling and from where they are calling, as well as the ability to obtain frequent numbers called.
  3. This monitor allows the call taker to enter in “calls for service” for police, fire, medical and Office of Emergency Management responses. The call taker can also view all pending and active calls for all of Davidson County.
  4. This is a fire department status screen that shows what tactical operating channels are in use for major incidents, which hospitals are on diversion, which fire vehicle resources are available and which radio channel has a specific call assigned to it.
  5. This is a status screen of all fire apparatus and medical units. It shows how long an ambulance has been enroute to a call, arrived on call and enroute to the hospital.
  6. This monitor displays a Davidson County map that shows all pending and active calls in relation to geographical locations.
  7. This screen is an advanced radio system that allows fire dispatchers to select one or multiple fire radio channels in order to dispatch calls.

overview of the Emergency Communications Center operations room
This is an overview of the Emergency Communications Center, with fire dispatching consoles
closest, followed by police dispatch in the middle, and half of the call taking positions
in the back of the picture.

View of the Emergency Communications Center operations center from the supervisor's tower
This is a view from the supervisor’s tower. This position has the capability to view all events
that are occurring within Davidson County. It allows the supervisor to manage the shift
effectively by monitoring how many calls (911, 8600 and alarms) are in queue, how
many are pending for dispatch and much more.