Northampton Public Safety (NPS) is the communications center for the City of Northampton. NPS operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, handling all emergency and non-emergency calls, while also dispatching the Police, Fire and EMS services for the City. It also provides after hours call assistance for the Department of Public Works and all City buildings.
The department is headed by a full-time Communication Center Administrator, and one Lead Dispatcher. NPS operates with eleven full-time communications personnel, and one per diem employee. All are civilian dispatchers, who undergo extensive training before working on their own. Training includes Enhanced 911, Emergency Medical/Police/Fire Dispatching, Basic Telecommunications, CPR, Incident Command and National Incident Management Systems, and the operation of the Computer Aided Dispatch and Radio systems.
Dispatchers are the initial first responders, acting as a vital link between the citizens of Northampton and the first responders in the field. When a call is received, dispatchers must gather as much information as possible. Dispatchers must relay all the information provided by the caller to the responders and coordinate response efforts in order to provide the best possible service. Dispatchers are trained and required to ask certain questions. While a caller is answering these questions, in a majority of the cases, the appropriate first responders are being dispatched to the scene.
Please remember that 911 is for emergencies only. If there is a risk to life or property, call 911! No one should call 911 about complaints of loud music, illegally parked cars, or anything that is not of an emergency nature.
If you have questions or concerns that are NOT an emergency, please refer to the numbers listed below:
NPS Non-Emergency 413-587-1100
NPS Fax 413-587-1158
Police Records Bureau 413-587-1106
Fire Department Administrative Offices 413-587-1032