Dinwiddie County Emergency Communications

09/02/2026

This week, some of our Dinwiddie Emergency Communications team members are hitting the books and sharpening their skills in APCO’s Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) course!

There’s always something new to learn in the world of 911 and we love seeing our team continue to grow!

A special shout-out to our in-house instructor, Senior Shift Supervisor Derrick Hanks, for sharing his knowledge and experience with our team this week! We appreciate the time and dedication you put into helping public safety telecommunicators strengthen their skills.

We’re excited for our team members to take in all the knowledge, build on their skills, and bring even more experience back to the center. After all, learning never stops when you’re committed to providing the best possible service to your community!

08/25/2026

Sometimes a 911 call comes full circle. On May 8, 2026, our 911 center received a call from a patient experiencing severe chest pain. On the other end of that call was ECO Kate, who remained calm, reassuring, and kept him talking while our EMS providers made their way to him.

What Kate didn’t know at the time was that this patient already had eight heart attacks and the pain he was feeling that day was worse than anything he had experienced before.

To make things even more challenging, the caller wasn’t sure where he was other than he’d pulled into a gas station. Using our technology and resources, Kate was able to determine his location and get help on the way.

Last week, we received a handwritten letter in the mail from this patient. He took the time to personally recognize Kate for the way she handled his call and also wanted to make sure the EMS providers who responded knew just how much he appreciated the care they provided - and most importantly, as he said today, they took the time to listen and help him.

Today that letter became something even more special. He came to our center to meet Kate and Firefighter/EMT Conner Mace, who cared for him that day. He had the opportunity to see our 911 center and meet some of the people behind the voice on the other end of the phone.

This is why we do what we do. In Emergency Communications, we often never get to know what happens after the call ends. We move on to the next emergency. It’s rare we get to hear from someone we helped and even rarer to have the opportunity to meet them afterward.

We are so grateful this patient took the time to recognize not only Kate but also our EMS providers that cared for him. His words meant more than he probably realizes.

08/17/2026

Thank you Chesterfield County 911 for hosting this class today - Jeremy had so much good information to share! We’re excited to hear ideas our team members bring back to us.

08/05/2026

What an unforgettable evening! 🎢

A huge thank you to SeaWorld San Antonio and APCO International for hosting an incredible Block Party!

Having the park reserved exclusively for conference attendees made for such a special experience. From the delicious food and refreshing drinks to the thrilling rides, amazing shows, and the opportunity to connect with fellow public safety communications professionals from across the country, it was truly a night to remember.

After spending our days learning, networking, and growing professionally, it was wonderful to unwind and celebrate with so many dedicated 9-1-1 professionals in such a unique setting.

Thank you, SeaWorld San Antonio and APCO International, for your generosity and hospitality. We had an amazing time and made memories that will last long after comes to a close!

One more day of good learning and then our team will be headed home!

08/05/2026

It’s Block Party time! Did you know SeaWorld San Antonio is the largest SeaWorld in the country? We’re excited to explore the park and have some fun after a good few days of learning!

08/04/2026

It’s been such a great week so far seeing so many familiar faces - and meeting a lot of new ones too!

Virginia showed up! 💙

It was great getting our Virginia APCO crew together for a quick group photo at . We’re proud to represent the Commonwealth, connect with colleagues from across the country, and bring new ideas home to strengthen public safety communications.

08/02/2026

We're proud to have members of Dinwiddie Emergency Communications representing our agency at the APCO International Annual Conference & Expo in San Antonio, Texas!

This conference brings together 9-1-1 professionals from across the country to learn about the latest advancements in public safety communications, leadership, training, technology, and industry best practices.

By attending sessions, networking with peers, and exploring new ideas, our team will bring valuable knowledge back to our center that will help us continue providing the highest level of service to the citizens of Dinwiddie County.

We're committed to continuous learning and professional development because when we invest in our people, we invest in our community.

Safe travels to our team. We can’t wait to share what they learn throughout the week!

07/30/2026

🚨 Big things are happening at Dinwiddie Emergency Communications! 🚨

As our county continues to grow, so does the need for highly trained professionals answering every 9-1-1 call and dispatching help when seconds matter. That's why we're excited to announce the creation of a brand-new position at our center—Training Supervisor.

Please join us in congratulating Tiffany Beckles as she steps into this important leadership role!

Training has always been a critical part of our success. For years, these responsibilities have been carried out by members of our team as an additional duty alongside their regular responsibilities. As our center and county have continued to grow, so has the need for a dedicated leader focused solely on training, mentoring, and developing our Emergency Communications Officers.

Thanks to the support and approval of our Board of Supervisors and County Administration, that vision has become a reality. Their investment in this full-time administrative position reflects a commitment not only to our employees but also to the citizens we proudly serve every day.

Behind every calm, confident voice on the other end of the phone are countless hours of learning, mentoring, and preparation. By creating this dedicated position, we're ensuring every Emergency Communications Officer receives the guidance, support, and training needed to provide the exceptional service our community deserves.
Tiffany's knowledge, leadership, and passion for helping others make her the perfect person to lead this effort. We know she'll play a vital role in developing not only the next generation of telecommunicators, but also continuing the growth and professional development of our experienced team members, strengthening our center for years to come.

Please join us in congratulating Tiffany on this well-deserved opportunity!

07/22/2026

We are proud to congratulate Supervisor Mary Burnett on successfully completing the APCO Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) program.

The RPL program is designed to strengthen leadership skills, enhance professional development, and prepare public safety communications leaders to effectively guide their teams through the ever-changing challenges of our profession.

Mary's commitment to continued learning and leadership reflects the dedication she brings to Dinwiddie Emergency Communications every day. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and know the knowledge and skills she has gained will continue to benefit our team, our agency, and the community we proudly serve.

Congratulations, Mary, on this outstanding achievement!

07/05/2026

Update - All systems are back in working order and we are receiving all of our calls. Please call 911 for emergencies and 804-469-3755 for any nonemergency requests.

‼️ Important Information ‼️