Durham Emergency Communications Center

DECC had the pleasure of attending Durham Tech's career fair yesterday. We spoke with many outstanding candidates and were impressed by their skills and enthusiasm. We are excited about the potential new talent that could join our team, particularly for the call-taker position. The candidates showed great promise in handling citizen interactions with patience and professionalism, aligning perfectly with DECC's values.

~DECC family~

FREE BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED!

Join Durham Rescue Mission’s Back to School Event & Backpack Giveaway!

We would be thrilled for you to join us in this meaningful endeavor by donating school supplies. Your contributions will directly benefit children in Durham and the surrounding areas, empowering them to pursue their educational goals.

All donated items are to be delivered to their Main Campus located at 1201 E Main St, Durham, NC 27701, by Thursday, August 1, 2024.

Items to Donate:

Pencils/Pens
Composition Notebooks
Folders/Binders
Lined Paper
Backpacks
Colored Pencils/Crayons/Markers
Erasers
Dry Erase Markers/Highlighters
Any other school materials you can think of

Your support is greatly appreciated and will make a significant difference in the lives of many children. Thank you for your generosity!

~DECC family~

DECC's 2024 Staff Retreat: A Huge Success!

We had an amazing time at DECC's 2024 Staff Retreat, getting to know each other better and working together on team-building projects. Staff retreats are essential for several reasons:

Building Relationships: They provide an opportunity for employees to connect on a personal level, fostering stronger relationships and improving communication.

Enhancing Teamwork: Through various activities and challenges, staff retreats help enhance teamwork and collaboration skills.

Boosting Morale: A change of scenery and engaging activities can boost morale and rejuvenate the team's spirit.

Encouraging Innovation: Retreats often create a relaxed environment that encourages creative thinking and problem-solving.

One of the highlights of our retreat was our visit to Bull City Escape, where we put our minds together to overcome an escape room challenge. It was a fantastic opportunity to bond and enhance our teamwork skills.

~DECC family~

Help us wish Jamie Johnson a magnificent birthday!

May your birthday be filled with smiles and cake. Wishing you the best!

~DECC family~

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Alexandria Thompson, who has joined our team!

Here’s a message from Alexandria:

Hi! My name is Alexandria Thompson. I am 28 years old and am excited to be in the academy for 911 Call Taker! My hobbies include reading, learning languages, doing pharmaceutical research, and writing. I speak Spanish and Portuguese and would love to learn French. I have a dog named Major who is seven years old, and I consider him my child. I would describe myself as confident, calm, inquisitive, and fun-loving! I'm glad to be part of an amazing team.

~DECC family~

Wishing you a fabulous Fourth of July! Enjoy the fireworks, barbecues, and the company of loved ones.

~DECC family~

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Jalesha Jefferson, who is joined our team! Hello everyone,

Message from Jalesha:

My name is Jalesha Jefferson. I am 22 years old and was born and raised in Ahoskie, NC. I am the oldest of 7 siblings and a proud mother to my 1-year-old son.

I recently graduated from North Carolina Central University in December 2023 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. My hobbies include cooking, doing makeup, shopping, and traveling.

I decided to join the Durham Emergency Communications Call Taker position because I have a passion for helping others and want to utilize my Criminal Justice degree. I am eager to further my knowledge within the field of Criminal Justice, and I believe this position will be a great fit for me.

It is a pleasure to be here, and I am super excited to get started!

~DECC family~

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Timothy Lewis, who has joined our team!

Message from Timothy:

My name is Timothy Lewis. I am 30 years old and a self-taught artist. I was born and raised in Nashville, NC. I worked as an EMT Basic for 5 years and have an associate's degree in Advertising & Graphic Design.

In my free time, I enjoy drawing, playing video games, reading comics, watching anime, listening to all genres of music, and wrestling.

I am thrilled to be part of this amazing team and look forward to contributing my skills and passion.

~DECC family~

Special birthday wishes to Sonja!

May your birthday be as incredible as you are!

~DECC family~

Help us wish Canisha a marvelous birthday!

Wishing you health, happiness, and success in the coming year.

~DECC family~

Happy birthday Michael Cadet!

Here’s to another year of making amazing memories.

~DECC family~

Let's welcome Krystal to DECC! We are thrilled to have you join us and become a part of our dedicated family.

As a 911 call taker, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. Your skills, empathy, and quick thinking will be invaluable assets in this role. We have every confidence that you'll excel and make a significant impact.

~DECC family~

Help DECC send special birthday wishes to Dwayne!

Here's to another year of adventure, laughter, and amazing memories.

~DECC family~

Let's welcome Sara to DECC! We are delighted to have you join us as you embark on your journey to become skilled call takers.

Our academy is committed to providing you with the best training and resources to excel in this role. You'll be learning from experienced professionals and engaging in hands-on practice to ensure you're fully prepared for the challenges and rewards of being a call taker.

~DECC family~

Today is the day we celebrate Juneteenth!

“Let no voice but your own speak to you from the depths. Let no influence but your own raise you in time of peace and time of war.” — Marcus Garvey

Happy Juneteenth!

~DECC family~

Help DECC welcome Shelby to the family!

Welcome to the team! We are thrilled to have you join us. Your skills, enthusiasm, and fresh perspective are exactly what we need to continue driving our success.

~DECC family~

Help us wish Steven at the Radio Shop a wonderful birthday!

We hope this birthday brings you joy, laughter, and love — all the things you deserve.

~DECC family~

“Today we celebrate the fathers whose embrace is more than home. It’s the safest place we’ve ever known.” -Komal Minhas

Happy Father's Day!

~DECC family~

Congratulations to Shurena Ballentine on her graduation in 2024! As a retired veteran and now a part-timer at DECC, your dedication and accomplishments are truly inspiring. Best wishes for your future endeavors!

~DECC family~

It was an absolute pleasure to be part of the wonderful Stop the Bleed event. The meet and greet with the public, Durham Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Services was a great experience for our community. The hands-on training and practice sessions were invaluable. Everyone got to take home a safety kit! We also had the opportunity to interact with our Spanish-speaking community and answer their questions.

~DECC family~

🌈 Happy !

NENA honors the dedication of our within the LGBTQ+ community. Emergency communications professionals come from all walks of life, and we're grateful for your unwavering commitment to keeping us all safe.

For those attending in Orlando, look out for the LGBTQ+ Meet Up on June 30 at 8 pm ET, as well as the DEI Mixer on July 1, at 8:30 pm ET.

Join us in promoting equality and inclusion and share your appreciation using ! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Public Comments Invited as Durham 911 Center Seeks 5th CALEA® Accreditation Durham residents can share their thoughts about Durham’s Emergency Communications (911) Center in a public comment portal as the agency seeks to attain its fifth accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.

Happy birthday Alejandra!

Wishing you a birthday as perfect as you are for me. Enjoy your day to the fullest!

~DECC family~

Happy birthday Kara-Beth!

"Remember, you get a birthday WEEK, not just one day. But today's extra special, and I hope you're showered with gifts, attention, and cake!"

~DECC family~

"Special birthday shout-out to Zari! Happy Birthday! Another year, and you're just getting sweeter."

~DECC family~

"Help us wish Marshall an incredible birthday! May your special day be as unforgettable as you are every day!"

~DECC family~

Help DECC wish Mo a wonderful birthday! We hope your day is filled with friends, family, fun, and celebration! Now get out there and celebrate!

~DECC family~

Help DECC wish Joseph a very happy birthday!

“It seems such a great day to say we feel so lucky that you came our way! Happy Birthday to you! Make it grand!”

~DECC family~

Help us wish Tarsha a happy work anniversary! Happy work anniversary, Tarsha! You’ve been essential to DECC's success for many years, and we’re so pleased to have you on our team.

A word from Tarsha is below.

"My journey began 13 years ago at the DECC. At that time, call-taking only involved the 5 Ws. Only one person worked FIRE/EMS dispatch, and EMS units were dispatched from their respective stations. Every call had to be verbally given out, and tones had to be set off. They would call and report you if you forgot to set off the county tones! Back then, Police A and Police B were split into two channels. You had to work together on Police dispatch. I liked that format because, during the time, it didn't matter what squad you were on or working with; it allowed you to work together as a team on dispatch with different people because the goal was to ensure officers got home safe."

"Some days, I didn't feel like coming to work because it seemed like everything, I touched would blow up on me. However, having two great trainers (Ollie for call-taking and police dispatch and Cindy Wilson for Fire/EMS) made the job easier and more enjoyable. What made it even better was that the DECC was like a family. We always worked together, especially during crucial events, and looked out for each other inside and outside the center. I've met some amazing people doing this job, some of whom have become lifelong friends."

"In 2017 I transitioned to the Durham Police Department full-time, but management still allowed me to work part-time at the DECC. I am grateful for this because the skills I’ve acquired at the DECC have helped me in my current role with the DPD. In 2024, I am still working part-time, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!"

~DECC family~