WHEN A SINGLE EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER SUCH AS 911 IS USED, ALL EMERGENCY SERVICES RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE DISPATCHER, AND AS A RESULT, PUBLIC CALLS FOR SERVICE CAN BE ANSWERED MORE RAPIDLY. MANPOWER IS UTILIZED MORE EFFICIENTLY, SINCE IT IS NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS TO STAFF 24-HOUR DISPATCH POINTS. ALSO, AVOIDED ARE THE REPORTING OF AN EMERGENCY TO MORE THAN ONE POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE RESULTING RESPONSE FROM MORE THAN ONE UNIT. IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO COMPUTER DATA BANKS, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR TODAY'S PATROL UNITS, IS MOST EFFICIENTLY HANDLED BY THE DISPATCH CENTER. THE CORNERSTONES OF A SUCCESSFUL CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS CONCEPT ARE: DISPATCHING THE NEAREST PATROL CAR TO AN INCIDENT, MAINTAINING INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTAL IDENTITY THROUGH REPRESENTATION ON THE COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS BOARD AND ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND DISTRIBUTION OF A DAILY DISPATCH CENTER ACTIVITY SHEET TO ALL PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS. THE IDEAL ORGANIZATION OF A CENTRAL DISPATCH SYSTEM REVOLVES AROUND A COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY REPRESENTING ALL EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCIES IN THE AREA. THIS AGENCY SHOULD SET THE OPERATING POLICY OF THE CENTRAL DISPATCH SYSTEM SO THAT THE NEEDS OF ALL DEPARTMENTS IN THE AREA WILL BE MET. DESCRIPTION OF THE GENESEE COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER AT FLINT, MICHIGAN IS INCLUDED.