CAD Call Types and

Response Determinants
White Paper by Steven D. Rivas, PMI-RMP®

E x e c u t i ve S u m m a r y

There are a number of different types of service delivery models for public safety
response – ranging from low priority to in-progress events that affect life and
property – each of which is determined “on the fly” or by intricate computer
algorithms to recommend a specific response based on information obtained from
inbound calls into public safety communication centers.

This white paper examines different types of CAD Call Type and Response
Determinants used for dispatching public safety resources.

Methodology

Call Type and Response Determinant reports were reviewed to supplement

interviews with public safety officials who have designed algorithmic response
outputs and recommendations for Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) Systems.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Initial Call
3. Ascertaining the Event
4. Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
5. Case Study: No Computers – “We Just Send’em Out”
6. Case Study: Call Taking with CAD Systems
7. Case Study: Protocol Driven Call Taking
8. Importance of Call Types and/or Response Determinants
9. Case Study: Dynamic vs. Static CAD Recommendations
10. Summary of Recommendations