Emergency Communications Center

The Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office operates an Emergency Communications Center located on Joint Base Cape Cod which is responsible for the dispatch of emergency 911 calls for many municipalities across Cape Cod. Our center is widely recognized as one of the largest and most efficient regional communications centers in New England. Currently, we serve as the regional 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the towns of Falmouth, Mashpee, Harwich, Chatham, Brewster, Orleans and Wellfleet, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and Joint Base Cape Cod. This PSAP also serves as the back-up for Barnstable, Dukes County (Martha’s Vineyard) and Nantucket. Fire and Emergency Medical Service Dispatch services are provided for the Barnstable and West Barnstable Fire Districts, as well as the towns of Bourne, Mashpee, Orleans, Wellfleet, Brewster, Dennis, Harwich and Joint Base Cape Cod.

The Barnstable County Fire Mutual Aid System is maintained and dispatched from the BCSO Communications Center as well. In cooperation with the Barnstable County Fire Chiefs, all run cards, up to the 5th alarm, for all 20 fire departments are maintained and updated by the telecommunicator staff. When additional resources are needed, whether it is a multiple alarm fire, mass casualty incident, search and rescue or large forest fires, all assignments are dispatched by the BCSO Communications Center.

Our dispatchers also handle over 45,000 calls a year for approximately 80 ambulances and four area hospitals, providing communication patches between first responders and area hospitals for medical direction. This crucial BCSO Centralized Medical Emergency Direction (CMED) system also coordinates all emergency medical flights for the area including those required by the U.S. Coast Guard during air and sea rescue operations.

The BCSO Emergency Communications Center staff are 911 certified and specially trained in emergency protocols to provide professional assistance during critical emergencies. With the latest technology at their fingertips, our telecommunicators are the lifeline between the community and the emergency resources they need at any given moment. These dispatchers work round-the-clock making life-changing decisions in a split second based on limited information provided in a stressful situation. The unknown voice of our BCSO dispatcher is often the silent hero; the calming voice of reason managing a critical situation and helping those in need.

Emergency Communications Division
3132 Richardson Road
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

For Emergency Dial 911

Fax: 508-563-4280
Phone: 508-563-4200