ARLINGTON, Texas, March 7, 2025 — The North Central Texas Emergency Communications District (NCT9-1-1) graduated 14 9-1-1 telecommunicators from its Regional Telecommunicator Academy (RTA) Class #018 on March 7th in Arlington. This class includes recruits from 9 different agencies, including:
Cockrell Hill Police Department
Collin County Sheriff’s Office
Decatur Police Department
Murphy Police Department
North Richland Hills Police Department
Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office
Springtown Police Department
Waxahachie Police Department
Wise County Sheriff’s Office
The graduating recruits have completed a rigorous four-week program that teaches equipment use, state mandates and regulations, how to handle emergency communications situations such as active shootings, and more. Texas is the only state in the country that requires its 9-1-1 telecommunicators to be licensed alongside peace officers and jailers, and NCT9-1-1 hosts the only 9-1-1 telecommunicator academy in the state.
“As we celebrate the 18th academy and approach our 10-year anniversary, we are deeply proud of the training and support we provide to our recruits,” said NCT9-1-1 Training Coordinator Bret Batchelor. “In today’s rapidly changing world and public safety landscape, it’s more important than ever to prepare our recruits not only for the technical demands of the job but for the emotional resilience required to navigate the complexities of the role. Our mission is to equip them with the skills to thrive in a challenging environment and build long, rewarding careers. By fostering a culture of support, adaptability, and mentorship, we are ensuring that our recruits are ready to lead, grow, and guide future generations of 9-1-1”.
The program has graduated recruits from all over Texas since its inception in February of 2016 and continues to grow with classes held twice a year in the winter and summer.
About the North Central Texas Emergency Communications District
The North Central Texas Emergency Communications District (NCT9-1-1) is responsible for 40 plus Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) in the 14 counties surrounding the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The district supports these ECCs through maintaining and upgrading 9-1-1 equipment, providing up-to-date mapping information, training 9-1-1 telecommunicators, educating the public on the proper use of 9-1-1, and monitoring ECC functionality and compliances. NCT9-1-1 serves a population of 2 million and 9,800+ square miles.