Communications Center

The Gillespie County Communications Center provides E911 services to all of Gillespie County and is the central communications / Primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the City of Fredericksburg and County of Gillespie. The Gillespie County Communications Center is an entity governed by the Gillespie County Commissioners Court. The departments' personnel are considered county employees; however, the budget for the department is contributed half by the City of Fredericksburg and half by Gillespie County.

The department provides dispatch services for all law enforcement, fire and EMS for Gillespie County. These agencies include the Fredericksburg Police Department, Gillespie County Sheriff's Department, Fredericksburg Fire Department, Fredericksburg Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers assigned to the area, six volunteer fire departments to include:

• Doss VFD
• Fredericksburg VFD
• Harper VFD/EMS
• Stonewall VFD
• Tierra Linda VFD
• Willow City VFD

We also provide dispatch services to Gillespie County Constables and Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens assigned to the area, and many others.

A16 | January 30, 2019 | Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post

Text to 911 service available in seven counties

In the case of an emergency, most people's primal instinct is to pick up their phones and dial 911. Alamo Area Council of Governments' (AACOG) Regional 911 program is now offering an alternative to dialing 911; though the help of multiple community partners, residents in Atascosa, Bandera, Frio, Gillespie, Karnes, Kendall and Wilson counties can now send a text message to seek help. In a case of domestic violence, a home intruder, an abduction or an active shooter, Text To 911 may be the only alternative to call for help without compromising your safety, said Marcela Medina, AACOG Director of Public Safety. In these circumstances - along with the opportunity to now provide direct access to 911 services for individuals with hearing or speech impairments - first responders' continued adoption of technology enhances existing systems and offers solutions.

Because the Text to 911 service uses local cell towers, it is subject to the limitations and challenges as wireless calls.

AACOG reminds users to:

• Only use the text service when unable to make a phone call
• Do not text and drive
• Send the exact location and type of emergency
• Silence the phone if noise may compromise safety
• Use plain language and avoid abbreviations or slang
• Photos and videos cannot be sent to 911 at this time
• Using the text to 911 service is just as serious as calling 911, and should only be used in case of emergencies
• Do not use the text message service as a joke, prank, or when there is no emergency

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Gillespie County Communications Center to first and foremost ensure the safety of all law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and emergency medical services and the general public by providing necessary information in an expedient, professional and courteous manner; to provide emergency communications services with respect for all individuals involved; to provide such assistance with professionalism and without prejudice or bias; to continue to further our knowledge of local ordinances and state laws in order to benefit all citizens and agencies that we serve.