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Dispatching in Cadmus means connecting one or more logged-on units to a Call for Service (CFS) and then tracking each unit’s progress from initial assignment through clearance. You can assign units directly inside an open call, by dragging from the sidebar on the dashboard, or from the command line — whichever fits your workflow in the moment.

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Assign a Unit from the Call Detail

The most straightforward path is to open the CFS and assign from within the call record:
1

Open the CFS

Click the call card on the dashboard or select the incident from the call queue to open the call detail view.
2

Locate the Units block

Find the Units block or the Quick Actions panel within the call detail.
3

Select Assign Unit

Click Assign Unit. The available-unit picker lists all on-duty units currently showing an Available status.
4

Choose the unit

Click the unit you want to assign. You can also select from the AVAILABLE UNITS row for a quick-pick of the nearest or first available.
5

Confirm assignment

Confirm the selection. The unit’s status advances to Dispatched (DISP) and the unit row appears in the call’s unit list.

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Assign a Unit from the Dashboard

Locate the unit in the Active Units sidebar on the dashboard. Drag the unit row and drop it onto the target call card. The unit is immediately assigned and its status moves to Dispatched.

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Agency desk assignments

Agency desk virtual units (for example MSHP-DESK) use the same drag-and-drop and quick-assign UX as field units, but Cadmus routes them through agency assignment instead of a standard unit dispatch. When you drag an agency desk onto a call card, click it in the AVAILABLE UNITS row on call detail, or select it from the Assign Unit dialog:
  1. The agency is added to the call’s Assigned agencies block.
  2. Cadmus generates a CFS number for that agency as part of the agency desk workflow.
  3. The desk unit does not require a clerk user to be logged on through Login User (F2).
In the Assign Unit dialog, agency desks are grouped under Agency desks, separate from staffed field units. You can assign a desk and field units to the same call in one action when needed.
Agency desk units are configured in Web Admin. They appear in the Active Units sidebar without shift login. See Unit login for what not to do with F2.

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Status Progression

Each unit assigned to a call moves through a standard status lifecycle. Update statuses promptly to keep the dispatch board accurate for the entire team. Available → Dispatched → Enroute → On Scene → Clear Use the quick-status chips on the call detail to advance a unit’s status with a single click:
Mark units Enroute and On Scene as soon as officers radio in. An up-to-date board lets supervisors and other dispatchers make better assignment decisions in real time. Use the Unit Greaseboard (F5) for a big-picture view of all unit statuses across active calls.

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Quick Status Change (Without Opening the Call)

When a unit needs a status update but you do not want to navigate into the full call detail, use the Quick Status Change option from the unit’s context menu in the Active Units sidebar. This option is available when supported by your agency configuration.

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Assign Multiple Units to One Call

For incidents requiring several units, use the in-call command line in multi-assign mode:
Each @ prefix identifies a unit ID. All listed units are assigned to the open call simultaneously.

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Remove a Unit from a Call

To clear a unit from an assignment:
  1. Open the call detail.
  2. Find the unit row in the Units block.
  3. Click the unit’s action menu and select Clear Call, or use the command line:
Confirm before clearing — the unit’s status returns to Available and the assignment is removed from the call record.
Clearing the primary (or only) unit from an active, in-progress call may violate your agency’s standard operating procedure. Confirm with a supervisor before removing the last assigned unit from a high-priority incident.

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Conflict Resolution

If you attempt to assign a unit that is already committed to another call, Cadmus returns an error toast and blocks the assignment. To resolve the conflict:
  1. Navigate to the other incident the unit is currently assigned to.
  2. Clear the unit from that call using Clear Call or the CU command.
  3. Return to the new incident and complete the assignment.
Do not force-clear a unit from a high-priority active call without coordinating with the officer or a supervisor first.

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Tips for Efficient Dispatching

Assign the closest unit

When policy allows, prioritize the geographically closest available unit to minimize response time. Use the Map (F4) to visualize unit positions relative to the call location.

Keep statuses current

Update Enroute and On Scene statuses as soon as officers confirm them by radio. Stale statuses make the board misleading for everyone sharing the console.

Use the greaseboard

Press F5 to open the Unit Greaseboard for a high-density status grid. Open it in a new window on a secondary monitor for continuous situational awareness.

Use multi-assign for large incidents

For mutual aid or major incidents, use the ASSIGN command to add all responding units in a single action rather than one at a time.