Published On: April 13, 2026Categories: Montana Highway Patrol, Press Release, Supporting Law Enforcement

HELENA – Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) Colonel Kurt Sager visited the MHP Communications Center today to recognize dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which is April 12-18.

The dispatchers at MHP’s Communications Center are emergency medical dispatch trained and answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year to dispatch troopers and other law enforcement officials to emergency and non-emergency situations to keep Montanans and visitors safe across the state.

“Dispatchers are there for us 24/7 and always ready to help in emergency situations. Without them, law enforcement wouldn’t be able to do their jobs. I am incredibly proud of MHP’s dispatchers. They are the unsung heroes in law enforcement and vital to our efforts to keep Montanans safe,” Attorney General Knudsen said.

“Our Montana Highway Patrol dispatchers play a significant role within our agency. They are the calm voice in the most critical moments, guiding both the public and our troopers during uncertainty. I am so grateful for their hard work and around the clock dedication to this agency,” Colonel Kurt Sager said.

So far this year, MHP dispatchers have answered 45,581 calls for service, which includes calls that troopers initiated and called into dispatch from the field, an average of 460 per day. They received 165,769 calls for service last year, an average of 13,814 calls per month. In 2024, the communications center received a total of 162,177 calls for service.

The communications center answers calls for MHP, Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Services, and Department of Corrections Probation and Parole. They also work with all 56 counties in Montana, various police departments across the state, and the Department of Transportation. MHP dispatchers will occasionally provide dispatch services for and/or make notifications for the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Land Management, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, VA Police, United States Forest Service, and United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

The Montana Highway Patrol is looking for new dispatchers. If you’re interested, please send an email to [email protected].