Dispatchers are responsible for taking calls and relaying all necessary information to Patrol Deputies in order for them to respond to calls. For the protection of deputies on shift, dispatchers are also responsible for tracking the location of each deputy on patrol to assure backup units may be quickly dispatched when and where they are needed.

They also dispatch three fire districts and first responders, including Fire District 3, which includes the Woodlawn, Lacassine and Bayou Chene areas; Fire District 5 in Fenton and Fire District 6 in Elton.

The Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Office currently has eight full-time dispatchers.

The dispatch and communications division is under the umbrella of the Jefferson Davis Parish Police Jury, and managed by the Sheriff. All major calls for service are dispatched through central communications.

The dispatch and communications division is also responsible for:

• Answering incoming calls from the public
• Receiving 911 calls
• Handling routine air traffic from field patrol units
• Maintaining accurate patrol transmission logs
• Dispatching calls
• Operating the National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
• Notifying and logging ambulances and wreckers for patrol officers
• Assisting internal departments with daily necessities and investigations

Frequently asked questions or call requests:

Why do we need to leave our names for filing a report? This is for record and clarification and also allows dispatchers to follow up with the caller and inform them of the complaint status.

May I request an officer to accompany me to retrieve my personal property from another other location? Officer assistance, in this case, is only possible with a court order.

What if I have custody of a child and the other parent refuses to bring them back? If you have a court order signed by a judge, you must contact your attorney and file a failure to comply with a court order.

The Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office Dispatch division also receives frequent inquiries regarding animal control throughout the rural areas of the parish. Like the dispatch and communications division, the responsibility of parish animal control falls under the umbrella of the Jefferson Davis Parish Police Jury, however, the parish currently does not have an animal control department or operations.

Deputies with the sheriff’s office may not pick up any stray or unclaimed animals.