Communications Unit
The Communications Unit is the largest Civilian unit within the Niagara Regional Police Service. The Communications Unit operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When a citizen calls 9-1-1 or the police administrative phone numbers in Niagara, the first person they speak to is an Emergency Call Taker. Our role as Emergency Call Takers is two-fold:
- We serve the public by answering emergency and non-emergency calls.
- We also provide the Police Service with a centralized control of personnel and facilitate field operations through the rapid dissemination of critical information by radio and telephone.
“Niagara Emergency, do you require Police, Fire or Ambulance?”
Niagara Regional Police Service is the Primary Public Safety Answering Point (PPSAP) for the Region of Niagara. As previously mentioned, the Communications Unit is responsible for the initial answering of all 9-1-1 emergency calls.
The Communications Unit receives and processes all non-emergency calls for service received from the public, as well as monitoring patrol units using voice and data transmissions. Police respond to an average of 198,000 calls for service per year.
What is an Emergency?
An emergency is any situation where the safety of a person or property is at risk. An emergency could be a fire, a medical situation, or a crime in progress, or an unknown situation when someone asks you to call 9 1 1 for them.
Examples of non-emergency type calls would be belated accidents, parking complaints, found property or any other information about general policing.
Help Us Help You
In the event of an emergency, try to remain calm. Dial 9-1-1 and be prepared to answer a few questions. At very least, provide your location. This is especially important when you are calling from a cellular phone or VoIP phones. You will also be asked to confirm your telephone number and what the situation is. You may be given instructions or asked to stay on the line to provide further details to the call-taker. Because of the different positions in the Communications Unit, a call-taker can stay on the line with the caller, while another person is able to send assistance and handle the dispatch requirements.
For more information on 9-1-1 and other Emergency and non-emergency numbers see our When to Call 911 page.
Join Our Team
We are always looking for qualified candidates. Please visit our Communications Unit Opportunities page to learn more.
Contact Us
Niagara Regional Police Service
Headquarters 5700 Valley Way Niagara Falls,
ON L2E 1X8
T: 905-688-4111
1 District - St. Catharines & Thorold
T: 905-688-4111 Ext: 1024233
2 District - Niagara Falls & Niagara on the Lake
T: 905-688-4111 Ext: 1022200
3 District - Welland & Pelham
T: 905-688-4111 Ext: 1023300
5 District - Fort Erie
T: 905-871-2300
6 District - Port Colborne & Wainfleet
T: 905-735-7811
8 District - Grimsby, Lincoln & West Lincoln
T: 905-945-2211