The communications unit is responsible for all incoming phone calls and radio dispatch for the Sheriff’s Office and is under the Operations Division. This unit is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Communications personnel operate a two-way radio system, maintain and check for wanted files in the National Criminal Information Computer and the Alabama Criminal Justice Information System. This unit utilizes a state of the art computer aided dispatch and mapping system to coordinate officer functions and maintains records. This unit must be able to rapidly and accurately verify information and comprehend, recall, record, and relay oral information among various other units within the Sheriff’s Office.

The Records Unit falls under the control of the Operations Division and is directly supervised by the communications supervisor. This unit is responsible for the management and dissemination of all reports generated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.