Re: 911:: need your opinion!

[Guest guest]

How long has he been a trainer? Has he been your trainer since hire? or is

this your second day with this particular person.

Other employees should never interfere with a trainer & their trainee. It

leads to too much confusion. However if the behavior is of a degrading

nature, you or the other employees better be letting the training coordinator

know about it.

The second day, no one should be expected to know everything or be able to

perform every task correctly unless you've had weeks and weeks of hands on

practice. Then, because of nerves, you'll make errors and be slow but not

enough to warrant nasty comments.

Does this trainer fill out a daily observation report (DOR) ? Are there

" deficiencies " marked on the report? Are you allowed to write comments on

the DOR?

Our training program is set up to allow feedback bothways from trainer and

trainee and the trainee is allowed to speak with the training coordinator if

they feel the trainer is not performing properly. So by all means talk to

him... don't holler, just talk to him about how he is making you feel.

Chin up Rite.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

Please do not let your trainer discourage you. I know that is easy for

someone else to say. When I first started though I really didn't have a

trainer so to speak. I had a few days on the radio with another dispatcher

and, that was it. I was on my own after that. I was overwhelmed and I didn't

think I would ever be able to handle dispatching.

I learned a lot by watching other dispatchers. And I was lucky enough to

have a lot of friends that had dispatch experience to get advice and

direction from. Dispatch related classes are also a big help.

I don't want to bad mouth your trainer because, I don't know him. It

sounds like he could be a little more supportive though. None of us learn how

to dispatch over night and each day you learn something new. I have

dispatched for a total of seven years thus far. I still ask questions from

dispatchers who have more years experience then me. And sometimes they ask me

questions. Just don't give up if you have your heart set on dispatching. And

don't let him discourage you. If you need to chat feel free to email me off

list.

Charlotte Gleba

Newport News Police,Fire,EMS

NEWPORT NEWS,VA

NNPWIFE@...

[Guest guest]

To be honest it sounds as if that trainer needs some training. For someone as

new to the job as you were there has to be some understanding that you will have

a lot of questions. If he is going to be a trainer he has to know how to be

patient with a new person and field those questions with some helpful answers.

Hence the basic definition of training.

[Guest guest]

Ask him whats up with his attitude, and if he doesn't straighten up and train

you right, and answer's ur questions correctly, go to the Training Supv. and

make your concerns known, and don't wait, the sooner you JUMPon this problem

the better you'll be, no make sure that you document everything you do

during your training, and also make note on any reports that he makes of you

each day, and mark this all down,and keep copies.

Least but not last, ask him if he really wants to train, if he doesn't, then

someone needs to let higher ups know about this. you may have to ask for a

new trainer.

Pete

[Guest guest]

>From: dsptchmom@...

Other employees should never interfere with a trainer & their trainee. It

>leads to too much confusion.

I totally agree with you kathy. We have this new trainee that has been there

oh maybe a month or so, and she has sat with about 4 different people..Thats

gotta be so confusing for her. Oh did I tell you she is no longer in

training and is on her own? yep, on her own. At our Comm Center when you can

run tags and DL's and give them back over the radio half way decent, you are

then put on your own..Im not kidding one bit, ask glenda. I guarantee ya

that if the tag had a hit on it she would miss it..

She had been there a couple weeks, (and by the way, she is our only

part-timer) another dispatcher called me in the morning and ask me if I

would feel comfortable with her alone that night...mind you it was a Friday

night and Friday nights can get mighty hairy sometimes..My response

was..Hell I don't know, you are the one training her part-time, is she

ready? he said, I think she is. I said, whatever!!

I think she will be good after the proper training. The local papers add

says 8-10 weeks training. I just wish they would give them 8-10 weeks

training. Trainees are on the radio the second day they are there.

Something terrible is going to happen before the brass wake up and train

these people properly..I sure hope Im not working when that happens, cause

I'll go down with them cause I was there...Its just not fair!

I still love my job, just frustrated

jamie in iowa

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[Guest guest]

Well young lady from Ohio, DON'T QUIT! Check the BOOKS, make your self

some temporary, please note I said TEMPORARY, notes. File cards, 3x5

work well, better yet a small loose leaf notebook same size, alphabetize

your systems. formats the same. Keep them handy, when not busy review

them. Soon you will notice you did not look before you did the job.

Keep at it don't don't don't give up. Others here will post also, read

them all and pick the suggestions that work for you.

Best of Luck,

Vern

Retired

Served Proudly

OhioLdy@... wrote:

>

> From: OhioLdy@...

>

> Hi Everyone

> Need your opinion on this!

> It was my 2nd day on the radio,my trainer was kind of rude with me,everytime

> I would ask a question,He would be like I dont know what is it? Now if i

> knew the answer would I have asked the question!

> This was the first time for me to sign onto leads..I had lots of questions

> about that! He was like look them up! I ended up upset and discouraged!The

> other dispatchers that sit near us was answering my questions and telling

> him not to talk to me like that! Now who is right and who is wrong here! Did

> you all know all the commmands to leads when you first got hired! On the way

> home from work I was so upset I had considered quiting...then I told myself

> NO I really like this job! Should I stand up to him and tell him that he has

> no right to talk to me like that,or as a new trainer am I suppose to be able

> to take that kind of training!

> What should I do?

> Looking forward to your responses

> Rite

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/24/00 2:08:15 AM Eastern Standard Time,

dstybttle@... writes:

> 8-10 weeks??? We train for 16 weeks, and I know after my training, I STILL

> did not feel comfortable to be on my own. I have been a dispatcher for a

> year now, and I still ask questions.

Our training period is a minimum of 6 months. In the past five years, we've

had 1 dispatcher cut loose after 5 months and 1 that had her probation

extended for 3 months. But those are exceptions to the rule. Our newest

trainer was cut loose from training this week, however she is not " on her

own " because the rest our crew will be there to support her. There is always

going to be something that comes up that wasn't covered in training, no

matter how intensive the training is. That's just the nature of beast. I

just don't feel even the best dispatchers out there can learn everything in

set time limits.

Covington, KY PD

[Guest guest]

Sent: Friday, March 24, 2000 12:00 AM

Subject: Re: 911:: need your opinion!

>

>

<<<<<<<SNIP>>>>>>>>>

The local papers add

> says 8-10 weeks training. I just wish they would give them 8-10 weeks

> training. Trainees are on the radio the second day they are there.

> Something terrible is going to happen before the brass wake up and train

> these people properly

8-10 weeks??? We train for 16 weeks, and I know after my training, I STILL

did not feel comfortable to be on my own. I have been a dispatcher for a

year now, and I still ask questions. That poor trainee must be scared out

of her wits!! I agree, something terrible (unfortunately) will have to

happen before they figure out that training is important!

just my thoughts,

County SO

__________________________________________

NetZero - Defenders of the Free World

Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at

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[Guest guest]

One of the most interesting things about dispatching with police/fire/ems -

- you can learn something everyday!!!!

>From: Mom5035cpd@...

>Reply-To: 911consoleonelist

>To: 911consoleonelist

>Subject: Re: 911:: need your opinion!

>Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 06:26:36 EST

>

>In a message dated 3/24/00 2:08:15 AM Eastern Standard Time,

>dstybttle@... writes:

>

> > 8-10 weeks??? We train for 16 weeks, and I know after my training, I

>STILL

> > did not feel comfortable to be on my own. I have been a dispatcher for

>a

> > year now, and I still ask questions.

>

>Our training period is a minimum of 6 months. In the past five years,

>we've

>had 1 dispatcher cut loose after 5 months and 1 that had her probation

>extended for 3 months. But those are exceptions to the rule. Our newest

>trainer was cut loose from training this week, however she is not " on her

>own " because the rest our crew will be there to support her. There is

>always

>going to be something that comes up that wasn't covered in training, no

>matter how intensive the training is. That's just the nature of beast. I

>just don't feel even the best dispatchers out there can learn everything in

>set time limits.

>

>

>Covington, KY PD

______________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

New or old, no one should be talked to like that. Confront him with your

feelings and tell him you don't appreciate being talked to like that. If he

doesn't listen or change his manner, follow your agencies chain of command

and report him. Good job for not quitting. Some old timers will tell you that

his treating you the way he did was his way of testing you to see if you

could handle the job. The important thing is that you didn't quit and that

you decided to stay on board. Good luck in the future. Mike

[Guest guest]

You say it was your second day on RADIO... did you have

classroom training before this???

If so, did you know where to find the answers..to the question

you were asking? manuals? classroom material??

No one should be expected to know anything on their 2nd day...

However... if the questions you were asking were something you

had covered in training... that's different...

It's not always what you know... but being able to find what you

need... example... NCIC code manual.... everyone has that puppy

memorized... right??? (grin)

I'm preparing my final written test for a trainee... Several of the

questions in this test will simply require the trainee to find

different things in the radio room...

We still use several written forms... he will have to find these forms

and attach them to the test... He will have to find several phone

numbers.. (ones we don't use often.. and are not in the computer)..

Certain things from different manuals.... Not difficult things.. but

things he will need to know how to do...

Was part of what this trainer doing... seeing if you knew where

to find things???

It's hard to give you advice... not knowing the full situation...

But it is hard for me to imagine your department letting someone

train... who has an attitude with a two day employee...

Weintraut

[Guest guest]

That was my first day with him,he just started training because we all got

on radio,they hired 4 of us at the same time,so I know its alot of stress on

the trainers,but arent they suppose to be there tohelp you. I wish we filled

out logs on them too,yes they fill them out on us,he actually gave me a good

report! I'm on my way there this morning.Hopefully It will go good!He is my

trainer today and Sunday,

Oh did i tell you at the end of the day..He apolized for being " shitty "

with me (those are the words he used) it was a little late for that Then...

Thanks for responding

Rite

On Thu, 23 Mar 2000 22:02:55 EST, 911consoleonelist wrote:

> How long has he been a trainer? Has he been your trainer since hire? or

is

> this your second day with this particular person.

>

> Other employees should never interfere with a trainer & their trainee.

It

> leads to too much confusion. However if the behavior is of a degrading

> nature, you or the other employees better be letting the training

coordinator

> know about it.

>

> The second day, no one should be expected to know everything or be able

to

> perform every task correctly unless you've had weeks and weeks of hands

on

> practice. Then, because of nerves, you'll make errors and be slow but

not

> enough to warrant nasty comments.

>

> Does this trainer fill out a daily observation report (DOR) ? Are there

> " deficiencies " marked on the report? Are you allowed to write comments

on

> the DOR?

>

> Our training program is set up to allow feedback bothways from trainer

and

> trainee and the trainee is allowed to speak with the training coordinator

if

> they feel the trainer is not performing properly. So by all means talk to

> him... don't holler, just talk to him about how he is making you feel.

>

> Chin up Rite.

> Kathy

_______________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

My sentiments exactly!!!! He did nothing but lose any confidence I had!!But

I'm going back and do my best!

On Thu, 23 Mar 2000 22:28:40 EST, 911consoleonelist wrote:

> To be honest it sounds as if that trainer needs some training. For

someone as new to the job as you were there has to be some understanding

that you will have a lot of questions. If he is going to be a trainer he

has to know how to be patient with a new person and field those questions

with some helpful answers. Hence the basic definition of training.

>

>

_______________________________________________________

Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite

Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp

[Guest guest]

> To: 911consoleonelist

> Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 17:45:48 -0800 (PST)

> From: OhioLdy@...

> Reply-to: 911consoleonelist

> Subject: 911:: need your opinion!

> From: OhioLdy@...

>

>The other dispatchers that sit near us was answering my questions

>and telling him not to talk to me like that!

-------------snip-------------

Now there's a clue in itself. Pompus is not a requirement to be a

trainer, unfortunately too many trainers have an overabundance of it.

Too bad, don't let the $#%^*) get you down.

Nick Wagner

Cortland Co. (NY) Sheriff's Dept

E9-1-1 Center/Sr. Supervisor

mailto:nwagner@...

[Guest guest]

Re: 911:: need your opinion!

> From: OhioLdy@...

>

> > Oh did i tell you at the end of the day..He apolized for being " shitty "

> with me (those are the words he used) it was a little late for that

Then...

> Thanks for responding

> Rite

>

Well, better late than never....I imagine that he was feeling a mite humble

when he uttered those words, so it could very well be the last time he may

be tempted to be " shitty " . I know how fecal I was last Monday. I'm

surprised the officers and my fellow dispatcher, ( who is like a son to me)

didn't pitch my substantial butt in the street. I was as nasty as an adder,

and yelled at everyone in earshot. I was so bad (how bad was she) I even

took an hour's comp just to get away before I said something that couldn't

be remedied. Apologies all around the next day, and I'm loved again. Shitty

happens....just forgive and forget and learn.

Lyn

magik@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 03/23/2000 10:03:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,

dsptchmom@... writes:

<<

How long has he been a trainer? Has he been your trainer since hire? or is

this your second day with this particular person.

Other employees should never interfere with a trainer & their trainee. It

leads to too much confusion. However if the behavior is of a degrading

nature, you or the other employees better be letting the training

coordinator

know about it.

The second day, no one should be expected to know everything or be able to

perform every task correctly unless you've had weeks and weeks of hands on

practice. Then, because of nerves, you'll make errors and be slow but not

enough to warrant nasty comments.

Does this trainer fill out a daily observation report (DOR) ? Are there

" deficiencies " marked on the report? Are you allowed to write comments on

the DOR?

Our training program is set up to allow feedback bothways from trainer and

trainee and the trainee is allowed to speak with the training coordinator if

they feel the trainer is not performing properly. So by all means talk to

him... don't holler, just talk to him about how he is making you feel.

Chin up Rite.

Kathy >>

I was going to respond to this question but Kathy said it all !!! Thank you

Kathy...you took the words right out of my mouth. I totally agree with

everything you said

Kristy Rohm

Supervisor, Clayton Co 911

boro, Ga.

NitePrey2@...

[Guest guest]

DON'T QUIT. I have been doing this for a very very very long time (24 yrs)

and at times I forget what it was like being a rookie (or whatever the

currently politically correct term is) when I am training someone. You might

want to consider asking your supervisor to facilitate a discussion between

you and the person training you to get the air clear so you can properly

learn a job/career that is extremely difficult to learn and emotionally

demanding.

Bob in Tacoma

P.S.

There are still days that I drive home thinking about quiting. But other

than going over Niagra Falls in a barrel, there is no more

exciting/thrilling/mind boggling/totally exhausting/learn something new every

day job I can think of....!!!!!!!!...:-))

[Guest guest]

It's not always what you know... but being able to find what you

need... example... NCIC code manual.... everyone has that puppy

memorized... right??? (grin)

Weintraut

-----------------------------------

Of course every last page I study it nightly!! I was going to get a signed

copy to keep at home because it is such interesting reading. (hint 1 don't

have new people read NCIC manuals on a midnight shift they will fall asleep)

But on a more serious note, this statement is oh so true. A good dispatcher

is one that can be resourceful and it is important to teach new people where

they can find the resources they need when they have questions because they

won't always be in training. What I think a lot of trainers forget is that

as a trainer you are one of those resources. That is basically your job to

pass the knowledge you have gained onto this person. Some people just don't

know how to do this in a way that builds a good relationship with the

trainee and makes them feel comfortable with their level of knowledge. They

get frustrated with their lack of knowledge or the fact that they might of

forgot something you have already went over and take this frustration out on

the trainee. I know I have been guilty of this myself on occasion, sometimes

I need to take a minute and say okay I was new once and this person has had

a ton of stuff crammed in their brain the last few days.

Now as far as getting frustrated on a person's second day of training on the

radio because they have questions, I think that is a little uncalled for.

But to give the trainer the benefit of the doubt remember this job is

frustrating for them too. Maybe they are being forced to train when they

don't want to. Maybe they have been training non-stop for several months.

Maybe they were just having a bad day. Don't let it get you down too much.

Give the trainer another chance, if it continues to happen to the point that

you are not learning and it makes you lose confidence in yourself ask for

another trainer. Don't go in with the attitude this guy is a jerk though,

you are new to this agency and some administrators may frown on this

attitude, they obviously feel this person is capable of training. Just tell

them you aren't responding well to his method of training and think a change

might help you. Good luck and keep your chin up. Training is hard from both

perspectives, you will have good days and bad days. Even with the best most

supportive trainer in the world there will be days you feel like you can't

do anything right. And remember nobody is perfect when they start this job,

if they were there would be no need for training. When a trainer is hard on

you or gives you bad marks there might be a reason, learn from it don't take

it personally. All you can do is improve yourself, sometime you can't

improve your trainer or their methods.

Sara Winfield

Union County Ohio

winfield@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/23/00 8:30:21 PM US Mountain Standard Time,

Fdbruno@... writes:

<< To be honest it sounds as if that trainer needs some training. >>

One of the best classes I had, when I was still with California Hwy Patrol,

was a " Train the Trainers " class at the CHP academy in Sacramento. A few of

us who wanted to learn to be better trainers went to the class and really

learned alot. Sounds like this trainer would have benefited from something

like this. A big problem I have found with training is that all the

trainers seem to do things their " own way " . Sure, maybe they follow the

rules and regulations of the comm center, but they have their own techniques.

Some of the trainers have better techniques than others. Perhaps after a

week or two (if you can hang in there taht long) you can go to a supervisor

and suggest another trainer. I had a trainee once that just wasnt getting

what I was trying to teach. I went to the supervisor and suggested another

trainer in case the way I was trying to teach was not getting through. Not

placing full blame on the trainee, but taking some of it myself. Sometimes

you just clash with a certain other personality too. Well, thats all I

have to say. I dont know if it helps any, but it was something I wanted to

share.

Hang in there Rite.

Janelle

Pima County Sheriff Dept

Tucson, Az

=^..^=

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/24/00 12:01:11 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

cully_911@... writes:

<< Trainees are on the radio the second day they are there. >>

Oh this is scary! At our Comm center, the trainees first are in a classroom

with the training supervisor for about 2 -3 weeks ,learing about the phone

system and how to be a call taker. Then , when they are released in the Comm

center, they go thru (I think) 4 weeks on each shift being a call taker.

Then its back to the training supervisor for 3-4 more weeks of radio

training. Then they get placed with a trainer for about 3-4 weeks on each

shift again. Then , if the finishing trainer (swing shift) feels the trainee

is ready, the training supervisor will pick a day unknown to the trainee and

ride in the field , listening to the trainee. Then the next day the training

supervisor will sit next to the trainee and watch his/her CAD and radio

skills. THEN and only then, the trainee is on probation.. working a rotation

of all the shifts again on their own for about 1 month until they pass

probation.

All of the time frames are approximates because I dont know exactly how long

it is, and also sometimes the trainee needs to be in a phase longer for some

reason. Also a note.. the trainee goes through 3 different trainers as

he/she goes through each shift.

Just a little insight into the workings of the Pima Co Sheriffs department

training. !!

Janelle

Pima County Sheriff Dept

Tucson, Az

=^..^=

[Guest guest]

Sara,

You are oh so right. Thats the way I trained myself. I had about

three or four days actual OJT training then cut loose. I spent my nose

in those books on a nightly basis. No I did not memorize, but I knew

every damn section and what it covered. So when I was a trainer I told

my students. Know what is in which book to find the answer when the

question comes up.

Vern

Retired

Served Proudly

& Sara Winfield wrote:

>

>

>

> It's not always what you know... but being able to find what you

> need... example... NCIC code manual.... everyone has that puppy

> memorized... right??? (grin)

> Weintraut <---Whats that Sara?

>

[Guest guest]

> > It's not always what you know... but being able to find what you

> > need... example... NCIC code manual.... everyone has that puppy

> > memorized... right??? (grin)

> > Weintraut <---Whats that Sara?

Vern,

That would be Weintraut's signature (I snipped the rest of his post). So

unfortuantely I can't take credit for this wonderfully true statement.

Although I agree 100% even though it's boring as heck sometimes, it's

important to know it well.

Sara

[Guest guest]

Re: 911:: need your opinion!

> From: OhioLdy@...

>

> My sentiments exactly!!!! He did nothing but lose any confidence I

had!!But

> I'm going back and do my best!

>

Hang in there, he may have just a had a bad day. As trainers we should try

our best to motivate

the trainees using positive reinforcement. One motto that I try to live by

is this, homelife ends when you walk into the office, office life ends when

you walk out the door. It is not always easy and doesn't always work

but it helps to keep your sanity.

Sgt Currey

Rutherford County SO, Tn

My thoughts, my feelings, my foot in my mouth

[Guest guest]

Re: 911:: need your opinion!

>

>

What I think a lot of trainers forget is that

> as a trainer you are one of those resources. That is basically your job to

> pass the knowledge you have gained onto this person.

VERY WELL SAID

[Guest guest]

Well our center training isnt anything like that,when we first got hired we

was in a classroom for 5 days going over all the Police,Fire and EMS codes

and LEADS,then we went on the floor and did call take,,I asked back then for

papers of questions to ask callers about situations I was told that it wasnt

available...So one of the trainers I had back then went over all the codes

and with me and I filled out a paper with my own questions on it!I went to

my training supervisor about the problem I am having with that trainer,She

told me that I should be able to answer my own questions,She wants him and

all the trainers to be HARD on me!!She said that if I rely on a trainer

whats going to happen when I get on my own!

Its discouraging! I dont expect them to do it for me,But This is the way I

learn! I'm thinking about quiting I hate to say! After all this is life and

death situations We are dealing with here!I just dont feel like I'm gettin

the proper training!

Rite

On Sat, 25 Mar 2000 00:05:33 EST, 911consoleonelist wrote:

> In a message dated 3/24/00 12:01:11 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

> cully_911@... writes:

>

> << Trainees are on the radio the second day they are there. >>

>

> Oh this is scary! At our Comm center, the trainees first are in a

classroom

> with the training supervisor for about 2 -3 weeks ,learing about the

phone

> system and how to be a call taker. Then , when they are released in the

Comm

> center, they go thru (I think) 4 weeks on each shift being a call taker.

> Then its back to the training supervisor for 3-4 more weeks of radio

> training. Then they get placed with a trainer for about 3-4 weeks on

each

> shift again. Then , if the finishing trainer (swing shift) feels the

trainee

> is ready, the training supervisor will pick a day unknown to the trainee

and

> ride in the field , listening to the trainee. Then the next day the

training

> supervisor will sit next to the trainee and watch his/her CAD and radio

> skills. THEN and only then, the trainee is on probation.. working a

rotation

> of all the shifts again on their own for about 1 month until they pass

> probation.

> All of the time frames are approximates because I dont know exactly how

long

> it is, and also sometimes the trainee needs to be in a phase longer for

some

> reason. Also a note.. the trainee goes through 3 different trainers as

> he/she goes through each shift.

> Just a little insight into the workings of the Pima Co Sheriffs

department

> training. !!

>

>

> Janelle

> Pima County Sheriff Dept

> Tucson, Az

> =^..^=

_______________________________________________________

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