Bulldog Safety Contact Card
A quick and easy way to save important health, public safety, and facilities contact information directly into your smart phone directory is to text ‘yalesafe” to 505-544-4999. You will receive a text reply with the Bulldog Safety Contact Card. Open the card and save it to your phone. It’s that easy.
Anthony Notarino sits surrounded by eight active computer monitors. While he answers a telephone call, voices can be heard over the two-way radio. He looks at one screen displaying a detailed street map, his hands move nimbly across the keyboard; his voice is low and steady. As a Yale Police Dispatcher, he is the first point of contact for emergency and non-emergency calls. A 28-year veteran, Notarino is kind and patient, exuding an aura of calm as he talks individuals through often difficult or painful situations.
Notarino and the other Yale Police Department (YPD) dispatchers are the human voices on the other end of the phone who efficiently and swiftly dispatch officers or additional resources as needed. They are part of the Yale Police Department’s dispatch hub which contains state-of-the-art technology, including computer-aided dispatch software (CAD), a LiveSafe dashboard, PowerPhone software, and a computer-based two-way radio system, to name just a few. However, the desktop telephone is the primary contact point between callers and access to help.
During a typical service call, Notarino logs an individual’s essential information into the CAD program. Through this system, which includes building floorplans and detailed campus and county maps, he can ascertain the individual’s exact location, including floor and room number. Then, Notarino uses the radio system to dispatch officers or other resources such as ambulances or firefighters to the site. The YPD officers have a computer in their vehicles that mirrors all the information Notarino has gathered, aiding them during their response.
24-7, 365 days a year
YPD’s dispatch center is operational 365 days a year, and two dispatchers always work side by side. This 24-hour operation has a staff of 11 full-time and two part-time dispatchers. “The greatest tool I have is my co-workers. It is nice to have the latest software and equipment, but it’s important to have a teammate you can turn to and say, ‘I need a hand with this call,’” said Notarino.
Each year, the YPD dispatch center gets thousands of calls for everything from basic information to “citizen assist calls” for non-emergency situations to wellness checks. The center receives reports of crime, emergencies, and non-emergency requests and can dispatch police, fire, ambulance, and other emergency services as appropriate. For emergencies, always call 911; the YPD dispatch center can be reached by calling 203-432-4400.
LiveSafe App
LiveSafe is an app that gives students, staff, and faculty on campus an effective way to communicate with the Yale Police Department (YPD) via a mobile device, including the ability to call or message the YPD and report suspicious activity or tips. With LiveSafe, you can use your smartphone as a personal security device to provide the YPD with accurate information about yourself and your GPS location. Your location and information are ONLY shared with YPD when you use the Emergency Options or Report Tips button within the app.