Communications Services Bureau

The Communication Services Bureau is managed by Karen Young. Karen started with the Great Falls Police Department as a Dispatcher in August 1988, was promoted to a supervisory position in 1996, and named the Interim PSAP Manager/9-1-1 Director in 2016, being hired full-time in her current position in 2016.   Karen has completed 33 years with the Great Falls Police Department and has a combined total of 36  years serving in Public Safety.  Karen holds a B.S. in Political Science from Brigham Young University and also a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Great Falls.

When fully staffed the Communication Services Bureau consists of 23 Full Time Civilian Employees to include: the Bureau Manager, three Public Safety Communications Officer Supervisors and 19 Public Safety Communications Officers (PSCO), commonly referred to as 911 Dispatchers.  Our Bureau is staffed around the clock, every day, utilizing a traditional Panama Schedule.  We are currently divided into four teams working 12 hour shifts.  This allows us to provide the coverage and support needed along with providing our employees ample time off and includes every other weekend off.

We are a combined Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the City of Great Falls and Cascade County.  We answer all 9-1-1 Emergency lines for Great Falls and Cascade County.  We also answer all non-emergency lines for Great Falls and Cascade County after hours and those transferred throughout the day.   Our main responsibilities are to answer requests for emergency assistance and dispatch and monitor emergency resources as they are needed.  Our Dispatch Center utilizes current dispatch technology, specifically CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch), telephone and radio systems, recording systems, and mapping systems.