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Cadmus Dispatch CAD is the primary computer-aided dispatch application for public-safety telecommunicators and dispatch supervisors. Use it to take calls for service (CFS), track and assign units, coordinate fire and EMS responses, run NCIC queries, and keep field personnel informed in real time — all from a single, keyboard-optimized interface designed for the pace of the dispatch center.

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Who Uses Dispatch CAD

Every role in the dispatch center has a home in Cadmus Dispatch CAD. Field officers and deputies work in Mobile CAD on MDTs or mobile devices; the calls and assignments you create here flow directly to their screens.

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What You Can Do

Dispatch CAD consolidates the core tasks of a telecommunicator into one workspace. Key capabilities include:
  • Create and manage CFS — intake location, reporting parties, incident type, priority, and disposition from first ring to close
  • Dispatch units — log in crews, assign from the board or call detail, and track en route / on scene in real time
  • Command line — drive status changes, dispatcher notes, unit assignments, persons/vehicles, and batch actions from the keyboard (Omnigo-style)
  • Map and location — geocoded addresses, unit plots, and RapidSOS caller tracking when enabled by your agency
  • Queries — NCIC/CJIS lookups when your agency is configured for criminal-justice access
  • Communications — dispatcher chat, SMS to field users, and SMS templates tied directly to a CFS
  • Operations boards — BOLOs, operational greaseboard, wrecker rotation, and utility contacts
  • History — find closed calls, review audit logs, and access SMS and query history on any CFS
Settings that control what you see — incident types, quick calls, NCIC configuration, and report numbers — are managed in Web Admin by your agency administrators. Contact your admin if options appear missing.

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How Dispatch CAD Fits in Cadmus

Dispatch CAD sits at the center of the Cadmus public-safety ecosystem. Changes flow outward to field responders and inward from agency configuration:
Agency admins who configure and dispatch should review the Admin and manager setup guide for a go-live checklist that spans Dispatch CAD, Mobile CAD, and Web Admin.

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New dispatcher: start here

1

Getting started

Sign in, sandbox vs live, and main layout.
2

Create a CFS

Use New CFS (F1) — Create CFS workflow and Form fields.
3

Log in units

Login User (F2) — Unit login and assignment.
4

Work the call

Call detail overview from first dispatch through updates.
5

Close the call

Disposition, primary officer, report numbers — Close call.
Then add Quick calls and F-keys and the Command Line overview when you are comfortable with the boards.

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Main workspace at a glance

See Dashboard overview for every tab and board behavior.

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Header shortcuts (F-keys)

F-keys do not fire while New CFS is open. Full list and configuration notes: Quick calls and F-keys.

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Documentation map

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Core workflows

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Tools and integrations

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Support and administration

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Command line

Power users can drive most call and unit actions from the command line instead of clicking through dialogs — status changes, dispatcher notes, assign units, persons/vehicles, and more. Start with Command Line overview, then Getting started and Command reference. Agency-specific aliases are configured in Web Admin.
Confirm Sandbox vs Live in the header before training or production work. Use Select Agencies when you dispatch for more than one agency in an organization. After admin changes to incident types or quick calls, reload Dispatch CAD if something looks stale.

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Next Steps

Getting Started

Sign in, understand sandbox vs. live environments, learn the main layout, and complete your essential first actions.

Dashboard Overview

Explore every call board tab, the units sidebar, status timers, and recent call search on the Dispatch CAD dashboard.
NCIC and CJIS data must remain on approved channels. Follow your agency’s criminal-justice policy at all times. Do not share live CFS details or reporting-party information outside authorized systems.