Communication
Macomb County Sheriff’s Communication Center provides all emergency & non-emergency call taking and dispatching for:
- Armada
- Bruce Twp.
- Clinton Twp.
- Harrison Twp.
- Lenox Twp.
- Macomb Twp.
- Mt. Clemens
- New Haven
- Ray Twp.
- Richmond
- Richmond Lenox EMS
- Sterling Heights
- Washington Twp.
Every Dispatcher is fully trained and certified in Emergency Medical Dispatch, Emergency Fire Dispatch and Emergency Law Enforcement Dispatch. The Sheriff’s Communication Center in 2020 answered 315,554 calls and 244 text messages. We dispatched 292,452 calls for service.
Text to 911
The Sheriff’s Dispatch Center has the ability to receive 911 emergency requests though SMS (Short Messaging Services), also known as cellular phone text messages.
The Sheriff’s Dispatch Center can receive the SMS text messages from persons messaging anywhere in Macomb County and using Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or Sprint cell-phone service providers.
When a request for emergency services (via text message) is received, dispatchers in COMTEC will be able to see the latitude and longitude from the cell-phone user. However, the technology does not pinpoint the exact location from where the message was sent. The cell-phone number from which the message was sent will display in the Dispatch Center.
If the emergency exists in one of the communities that are incapable of receiving 911 text messages, the Sheriff’s Dispatchers will maintain the text message session and relay the information to the proper PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) so that emergency services will be provided.
While COMTEC will have the ability to receive the text messages, it is still preferable that callers make the voice calls to our Dispatch Center so that the dispatchers answering the phone can garner additional information about the call and dispatch the proper resources.
*DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE! When in doubt –call 911!
“This communication tool is a perfect solution for the hearing impaired. However, whenever possible, we still want to encourage users to dial ‘911’ in the case of any emergency. Call if you can, text if you can’t”.
Sheriff Anthony Wickersham
SMART 9-1-1
Most 9-1-1 calls are made from a cellular phone, with very little information provided to a dispatcher. With Smart 9-1-1, call takers and first responders will have additional information that can be used to facilitate the proper response to your location. . You can sign up, at no cost, at www.smart911.com, and include your address, vehicles you own, medical alerts, emergency contacts, access information, download photos of your pets or family. Citizens can create their own safety profile and when 911 is called, your safety profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker.
For non-English speaking residents our 911 center is also equipped with calling an interpreter 24 hours a day 7 days a week with the aid of AT&T Language Line. This service provides interpreters for more than 140 languages.