About

Mission

The Marshall County Communications Center is dedicated to providing exceptional emergency communication services with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the safety of our citizens, visitors, and first responders. As the vital link between the community and public safety agencies, we answer every call with professionalism, accuracy, and care, working as a team to protect lives and property through rapid, reliable response. We value the trust placed in us and strive each day to uphold the highest standards of service, technology, and collaboration. Safety is our first priority. Integrity is our commitment.

Vision

Our vision at the Marshall County Communications Center is to serve with professionalism and dedication, building trust, respect, and confidence within our team and throughout the community. We strive to be a dependable and valued part of the public safety network, known for our integrity, compassion, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

Values

At the Marshall County Communications Center, our values guide everything we do. We believe in harmony, treating one another with trust, respect, and care as valued members of our team. Service is at the heart of our mission, safety always comes first, and our citizens remain our top priority. We uphold integrity through professionalism and ethical conduct in every decision we make. Through teamwork, we work together toward a shared goal of protecting our community and shaping the future of our center. And above all, we believe in having fun, giving our best each day while finding pride and joy in the work we do.

About The Marshall County Communications Center

The Marshall County Communications Center proudly serves as the critical link between the citizens of Marshall County and the many public safety agencies that protect our community. Our mission is simple yet vital, to collect and share information quickly, accurately, and compassionately to safeguard life, property, and the environment. Every day, our team works behind the scenes to help make Marshall County a safer place to live, work, and visit.

The history of 911 traces back to Haleyville, Alabama, where the first-ever 911 call was made on February 16, 1968. This groundbreaking moment marked the beginning of a national effort to create a single, universal number for emergencies. Three decades later, in 1999, Congress designated 911 as the official nationwide emergency number, ensuring that help could be reached with one simple call anywhere in the United States.

Locally, the Marshall County Communications Center has evolved to meet the growing needs of our community. In 2018, operations transitioned from the City of Marshalltown to fall under the Marshall County Commission, strengthening coordination and oversight for countywide emergency response.

Today, the Communications Center, located inside the Marshalltown Police and Fire Building, serves as the primary dispatch center for all of Marshall County. Our team provides dispatching services for 12 volunteer fire departments, 12 first responder (medical) units, Unity Point Ambulance, the Marshalltown Police Department, the State Center Police Department, and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to handling thousands of 911 and administrative calls each year, the center also maintains all active warrants and protective orders within the county. Our 911 Communications Specialists communicate across 14 radio talk groups, coordinating with over 30 emergency response agencies to ensure seamless communication and rapid response when seconds matter most.

At the heart of everything we do is our dedication to service, teamwork, and integrity, because when you call 911, we’re here to send help when it’s needed most.

Tell us your worst, we’ll send you our Best!