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Communications Centre (9-1-1)
Behind every 9-1-1 call in Ottawa is a highly trained Police Communicator—calm, focused, and ready to act when seconds matter.
Police Communicators are the heart of Ottawa’s emergency response system. As part of the Ottawa Police Service’s civilian team, they connect residents with police, fire, paramedics, and City services, ensuring the right help is sent as quickly and safely as possible.
Remaining calm and making sound decisions under pressure are essential in this role. Emergency situations can be intense and unpredictable, but for those who thrive in fast-paced environments, the work is both challenging and deeply rewarding.
Your first call for help.
What is the Communications Centre?
The Ottawa Police Service Communications Centre is located at police headquarters at 474 Elgin Street and handles calls for service across the National Capital Region.
Police Communicators respond to:
- 9-1-1 emergency calls
- Urgent police calls
- Non-emergency and administrative calls
They also work closely with:
- Partner emergency services
- Alarm and security companies
- Tow operators
- Utilities and other commercial agencies
In addition to taking calls, Communicators dispatch front-line Ottawa Police officers to incidents throughout the city.
Click here for more information about how to become a 9-1-1 Police Communicator.
CommunityConnect: Text updates for some police calls
When Ottawa residents contact police for help, staying informed matters. CommunityConnect is a service that provides text updates and feedback opportunities to eligible callers, helping reduce uncertainty and improve communication while police respond.
Through CommunityConnect, the Ottawa Police Service keeps callers informed with timely, automated text messages after they contact police—offering reassurance, clarity, and transparency throughout the response process.
The service helps keep residents informed, reduces uncertainty while they wait, and strengthens transparency and communication between police and the community.
CommunityConnect is part of the Ottawa Police Service’s ongoing modernization efforts, focused on clearer communication, improved technology, and better service pathways for residents.
How It Works
When you contact Ottawa Police for help, you may receive automated text messages that:
- Confirm your call was received
- Provide a case number
- Share information about next steps
- Advise if police response is delayed
Once your call is closed, you may also receive a link to a short, voluntary feedback survey available in English and French.
Texts are sent from 343-803-6032.
No personal or financial information is ever requested by text.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What types of calls are included? |
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CommunityConnect applies to Priority 3 and Priority 4 calls, where there is no immediate threat to life and no crime in progress. |
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What calls are not included? |
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For safety and privacy reasons, text updates are not sent for:
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Why don’t all calls receive text updates? |
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Some situations require limited communication to protect public safety, investigations, or those involved. CommunityConnect is designed to support communication where it is safe and appropriate to do so. |
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Is this a scam? |
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No. CommunityConnect texts are only sent after you contact Ottawa Police and always come from 343-803-6032. OPS will never request personal, financial, or confidential information by text. |
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What happens to my feedback? |
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Survey responses are reviewed internally to help improve service delivery and communication. Over time, aggregated feedback will be published on the Community Safety Data Portal so the public can view non-identifying service data. |
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Why CommunityConnect Matters |
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Ottawa Police receive hundreds of thousands of non-urgent calls each year. CommunityConnect helps:
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