Communications Services

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Police Department operations is supported by the Communications Center, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The University strongly encourages students, employees and visitors to accurately and promptly report crimes, suspicious activity and other public safety related emergencies to the UTC PD, which is the University’s primary reporting structure for crimes and emergencies.

All emergency calls should be made to the campus 911 system by calling the UTC PD Communications Center at 423-425-4357 from any campus phone. You may also use this line for non-emergency reporting.  Reports of crimes or emergencies may also be made by dialing 911 from a cell phone or other non-University phone. It is important to note that a 911 call made from a cell phone or non-University phone will be routed to Hamilton County 911. Once the off-campus telecommunicator determines the call is coming from the campus, he/she will transfer the call to UTC PD.

Responsibilities and Training

The Communications Center is staffed by trained and state certified communications officers who answer calls for service and are authorized to dispatch police, fire, or emergency medical services immediately upon receiving a call for help. Communications Officers also monitor intrusion and fire alarms. UTC PD is also a part of the Hamilton County 911 Emergency System (Hamilton County 911). By mutual agreement with state and federal agencies, the Communications Center maintains a NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Network) terminal. Through this system, communications officers can access the National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) system as well as the Tennessee Information Enforcement System (TIES). These computer databases are used for accessing criminal history data, nationwide police records, wanted persons, stolen property, driver/vehicle identification information, as well as other local, state and federal law enforcement information.