Department of Public Safety E911 Communications Bureau

Office:  770.443.7629
Fax:  770.505.3896

Mission Statement

·        Provide professional Enhanced 9-1-1 services to the citizens of Paulding County.  

·        To help ensure a timely response to all emergency incidents within Paulding County through providing notification and/or assistance to public safety resources that are involved in the delivery of emergency services within Paulding County.

What We Do 

·        Serve as Paulding County’s primary PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) in accordance with the guidelines and mandates established by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

·        Provide notification and/or dispatch services in accordance with written communication guidelines for designated public safety agencies that provide emergency response to 911 calls from citizens and callers within Paulding County. 

·        Provide support to the Emergency Management Division as needed. 

·        Assist in providing support to other agencies and entities as defined by standard operating procedures, mutual aid agreements and other agreements.

Our Main Operational Objectives

1.      Answer and process 9-1-1 calls.  

2.      Provide notification and/or dispatch services for user agencies as they relate to the delivery of emergency services. 

3.      Answer and process administrative/non-emergency calls.  

4.      Perform other routine tasks and/or services to support notification and/or dispatch services in accordance with bureau standard operating procedures.

What You Can Do

·        Know when and when not to call 9-1-1. Typically, 9-1-1 is for reporting life-threatening emergencies, potentially life-threatening emergencies and/or crimes in progress (or having just occurred). For instances where emergency responders are not needed on the scene right away please report the incident or request a response through a non-emergency number (770-445-2117). For general questions and information please call the administrative number of the applicable agency.

·        Make sure your address is posted so that emergency responders can locate your home or business. Numbers should be posted near your drive at the street (if applicable) and, in some instances, also on the building (house or business).

Frequently Asked Questions

How does 9-1-1 work?

Your telephone number has a unique identifier number assigned to it. That number is what is known as an ANI (Automatic Number Identification). The telephone service provider associates this number (ANI) with another number, called an ALI (Automatic Location Identification), that is the location that the company believes is the physical location of the your telephone/account. For wireline E9-1-1 the ALI that is usually associated with your ANI is your home address (or business address if it’s a business line).  When you call 9-1-1 our equipment reads your ANI and queries our service provider’s database (in two different location in other parts of the country) to get your associated ALI- which in turn provides us with your location. For other types of telephone service (wireless, PBX, VoIP, etc.) it does not quite work the same way, but should usually work in a similar manner. 

What is the difference between wireline and wireless E9-1-1?

Wireline E9-1-1 is 9-1-1 service from a ‘hard line’- an actual wire telephone line (typically used to get residential and business dial tone). Think of this type of service as being associated with your traditional wired home telephone. When you call 9-1-1 from a traditional hard line telephone the ALI we get back usually gives us your home or business address. Wireless E9-1-1 (your cell phone) service is a developing service. Your ANI is associated with your account, which delivers the service provider and your cell phone’s telephone number. Depending on the ‘phase’ of service available in your area the associated ALI may give the address of the cell tower your call is ‘hitting’ or it may give an approximate location (either a latitude and longitude measurement or a calculation of the closest physical address known to exist) of your handset. Typically, when you call from a wireline telephone we get the address of the actual location you are calling from. With a wireless telephone, we may know the general area, but we usually don’t get the address of the actual location you are calling from.

What about E9-1-1 service from a PBX system?

If your employer uses a PBX or similar multiple handset system we may or may not get the actual location of the handset you are using when you call. In many instances, unless your employer or their service provides uses special CAMA trunks or software for alias ALI assignments, we get the main address (billing address) of the business. If you are at a satellite location, branch or remote office be sure to know your address to relate to the call taker if you call 9-1-1.

What about E9-1-1 and VoIP?

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a relatively new service available to the public. Like any new service, E9-1-1 access is also developing. The FCC is requiring that VoIP providers ensure their customers have access to the correct local PSAP via the E9-1-1 Network. If you use VoIP or are considering using VoIP for your communications needs, be sure to read the service agreement closely and understand how you will be connected to a PSAP if you dial 9-1-1. You should also make sure you understand any potential connectivity issues that may affect your service.

What are the surcharges I pay?

If you check your wireline telephone bill you will see that you are assessed a fee of $1.50 per month for every subscriber line on your account. The same holds true for wireless telephones, except that in Phase I areas the fee is $1.00 per month for every subscriber line on your account. (the surcharge amount for Phase II service areas is $1.50 per month). When 9-1-1 was first offered in Georgia, most governments could not afford to start, staff and operate a new department. The surcharge funding was passed into law to allow local governments to utilize a user fee-based system to help supplement the funding of the new agencies. While the surcharge does not typically pay for all of the operating costs, it usually offsets the costs enough to allow a local government to offer 9-1-1 service.

Why can’t I have my alarm call you?

It is against the law for an automated alarm system to dial 9-1-1. In such instance we disconnect from the call, report the instance for investigation and request the telephone service provider to disconnect service or access to the E9-1-1 Network. Similarly, we cannot accept such calls on our non-emergency lines. The devices can malfunction and tie up our lines through repeated calling. We also have no way of verifying the validity of an alarm, relay potentially important safety information to responding emergency personnel, or get in contact with anyone if a responding emergency personnel require a key holder to make entry. You can subscribe to an alarm monitoring service to monitor your alarm for you and they will call to report the alarm. You can also have your alarm call you, a friend or relative at another number and you or they, in turn, can call us on a non-emergency line to report the alarm.

Important Numbers

To request law enforcement, fire or EMS Emergency call: 911

To request Paulding County Sheriff’s Office respond to a non-emergency call for service, Hiram Police Department respond to a non-emergency call for service or Paulding County Fire & Rescue respond to a non-emergency call: 770-445-2117

Other Non-Emergency Numbers

Paulding County General Information and Telephone Directory: 770-443-7500

Paulding County Sheriff’s Office: 770-443-3010

Paulding County DPS Fire & Rescue Bureau: 770-222-1160

Dallas Police Department: 770-443-8100

Hiram Police Department: 770-943-3087

Clark Ambulance Service: 770-445-2151