Create a Dispatch

Once a dispatch is created, it is assigned a number and appears in the Dispatches Panel.

To view your most recently created dispatches at the top of the Dispatches panel, click the Reported Time column to arrange the dispatches in reverse chronological order. To arrange by oldest to newest, click the Reported Time column again.

To create a new dispatch:

1. Click  Create in the ribbon.

2. Select a work zone from the Work Zone dropdown menu. 

   Work Zones, created by your administrator, are the general area where a dispatch is occurring. They affect which officer team can respond to the dispatch.

3. Optional: Enter search criteria in the Template field. If created by your administrator, templates will pre-populate certain fields in the panel. 

   If the selected template includes a default call sign, the on-duty officer with that call sign will be automatically assigned to any tasks on the dispatch. Read more here: Default Call Sign.

4. Select all three call category levels (e.g., Security Response, Emergency, Property) using one of these methods:

   • Enter search criteria in the Call Category field.

   • Enter the call category (i.e., activity type) abbreviation in the Call Category field. These abbreviations are created by an administrator in Command Center.

   • Use the dropdown menu to select a call category. The last selection made in these dropdown menus will automatically populate the Call Category field.The Call Category section.

5. Select a priority (High, Medium, Low) from the Priority dropdown menu, if a priority wasn’t automatically selected with the call category or if you want to overwrite this selection.
6. Optional: Select a call source (e.g., Alarm, Phone Call, Email) from the Call Source dropdown menu.
7. Optional: Enter search criteria in the Initiated By Person field to locate the person record for the individual who provided the initial dispatch information.
8. To Quick Add a Person record (i.e., a Person object in Command Center):
   1. Click the  icon in the Initiated By Person field.
   2. Enter the person’s name in First Name and Last Name fields.
   3. Optional: Enter or select additional information in the Gender, Email Address, and Phone Number fields.
   4. Click Add.
9. Optional: Enter a phone number for the person who provided the initial dispatch information in the Contact Number field.
10. Enter an exterior location in the Location section by one of these methods:
    • Enter search criteria in the Search locations field, then select the location from the search results.
    • Click a map pin to select that location (for an indoor location point, see step 12).
    • Create a new temporary location by clicking a global address from the search results (if enabled) or the  icon in the Search locations field. 
    • Click a map location to place a pin, then enter a name in the Location name field. 

      You cannot create temporary locations unless you have the appropriate profile permissions. Before creating a new location, see Quick Add Temporary Locations for important directions.

      A new location pin after clicking the plus icon in the Search locations field.

      If you selected a default location in your account settings, that location will be selected in the Location field by default.

11. Select an indoor location point by entering search terms for the exact one in the Search locations field.
12. Click to select that location from the search results. Enter search terms in the Search locations field to select an indoor location point.
13. Optional: Enter a description of the dispatch in the Description field. 
14. Optional: Enter extra details about the dispatch in the Initial Notes field. 
    • Anything entered in this field generates the dispatch conversation.
15. Optional: To add officer tasks:
    1. Click Add Officer Tasks to reveal the Dispatch Tasks section.
    2. Enter a description in the Task Description field.
    3. Optional: In the Assign Tasks To field, enter the search criteria for the officer to whom you want to assign the tas
    4. Select a location by using one of these methods:
       • Enter search criteria in the Search locations field, then select the location from the search results.
       • Click the  icon, then click a map location pin on the map to select it.
       • Create a new location by clicking the  icon then entering search criteria to select a global address from the map (if enabled). 
       • Click the  icon in the Search location field, then click a map location to place a pin. Enter a name in the Location name field.
    5. Repeat these above steps to create more officer tasks as needed.

There are several other ways to create officer tasks. Read more here: Tasks.