Guest guest Posted March 27, 2000 Report Share Posted March 27, 2000 In a message dated 3/27/00 9:13:06 PM US Mountain Standard Time, estinneford@... writes: << From: estinneford@... How good or bad are the staffing levels at your 911/dispatcher center? >> We have 4 supervisors, 1 for eash shift and a relief. We work with 7 or 8 dispatchers on for swings, 5 or 6 for mids and 6 or 7 for days. That is the required amount. We actually have about 25 persons and are down 7 positions.. 2 are in radio training now and 1 is in phone training. They will be down 8 once I leave next week. Janelle Pima County Sheriff Dept Tucson, Az =^..^= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2000 Report Share Posted March 27, 2000 Our center is authorized a total of 24 employees, not including admin. staff. We are supposed to have 1 supervisor, 1 F/R dispatcher, 2 S/O dispatchers, 1 teletype operator and 1 calltaker. Minimum staffing is 4 on a shift and we work 12 hour shifts. Current staffing level is 16 and of the these only 10 are released to work the radio and that includes the supervisors. There is plenty of overtime being worked by all employees and in the very near future its going to get worse because 5 of the trained radio operators will be taking FMLA for one reason or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2000 Report Share Posted March 27, 2000 How good or bad are the staffing levels at your 911/dispatcher center? Our center has 14 positions total counting shift supervisors. We were down to 7 but, we have 2 in training now and a temporary part time person in training. We try to maintain minimum staffing at 2 per shift, but we had to make adjustments and have only had one on duty from 3am to 7am. Long Communication Supervisor McKinney Police/Fire/EMS McKinney, Texas klong@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2000 Report Share Posted March 27, 2000 How good or bad are the staffing levels at your 911/dispatcher center? 13 dispatchers would be full staff for us. Right now we're down to 6. We were at full staffing about 2 years ago, it lasted about a month. Since then people keep leaving, and the department hasn't been rushing to hire anyone. They're getting better about now, but now we keep losing people in training. Next month we have about 400 hours of open shifts that will need to be filled. We do have a number of part time people and some officers who are able to pick up some shifts, but it still means tons of mandatory overtime. I don't mind the overtime too much, everyone is trying to do their part, but month after month of getting ordered in to work....it just gets old. We have one person in training now (had two, but one quit Saturday), two people in background, and 5 interviews coming up soon. Of course there's about six months training before they'll make a difference on the schedule, but hopefully things will get better soon. Dunn UCLA Police Department Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2000 Report Share Posted March 27, 2000 Well here at my full time job (Charlottesville, VA Fire) we dispatch fire only. We're all firefighters that are required to pull a tour in communications. We have two dispatchers in the building for the full 24 hours shift. Those two individuals are responsible for communications for that full 24 hours and it is up to them to divide the day into breaks, sleeping, etc. We only get fire related emergencies transferred to us by the 911 center. That's the only true call taking we do. First responder/EMS calls are called to us by a dispatcher at the 911 center. At my part time job (Fluvanna County Sheriff's Office) we only have on dispatcher on for each 8 hour shift. We handle all 911 and dispatch for sheriff, fire and rescue as well as the troopers assisgned to our county. We are also fully responsible for all NCIC/VCIN transactions and are basically the frontline greeter for all visitors to the office. Kinda sucks that we have no help, unable to leave, lucky to even eat at the radio, fortunate to make it to the bathroom and hoping we don't have to stop in the middle of the process to answer the phone or radio. But that's what we get paid the big bucks for, right!!?? Charlottesville, Va Fire Dept. Fluvanna County Sheriff's Office Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 We are doing better than most, percentage wise, but when we lose people we feel it. We have nine total (including me). Currently we are 1 short, but we are fixing to lose one of our veteran dispatchers due to graduation. This will leave us 2 short, plus a trainer and his expertise. One time we were 3 short, during the busiest time of the year AND just after a move. Boy were we messed up. Would like to add one person for each shift so that way we don't feel it as much, allow a better rate of retention and give us one permanent calltaker and one permanent radio person per shift. This would also allow me to concentrate on supervising - rather than having to dispatch when we are short (Don't get me wrong. I love to dispatch, but if I have to do it all the time my supervisory duties suffer - then the dispatchers suffer because I can't get anything done. One or the other - not both at the same time.) Director won't go for it though. annette hallmark ahallmark@... <<snip>> From: estinneford@... How good or bad are the staffing levels at your 911/dispatcher center? Here at Fayetteville we're authorized nine folks for each of our four teams (Supervisor, CTO/Ass't Supervisor, two call takers, two fire dispatchers, three police dispatchers). Currently we have five or six persons per team, and not everyone is fully trained/certified. With minimum staffing being five persons (three police dispatchers, one fire dispatcher, and a supervisor) that means when ever someone misses a day (sick leave, vacation) another person has to be called in to work overtime. Anyone doing better, worse? EJ Fayetteville (NC) Communications <<snip>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 How good or bad are the staffing levels at your 911/dispatcher center? Okay this might be confusing we are in the middle of changing our level of staffing from all full time (with part time that just covers open shifts) to a mixture of full time and " permanent " part time. Before the switch over we had 2 on a shift for a total of 8 dispatchers all full time and 1 or 2 part time that covered open shifts. In the time I have been there since 95 we were at full staffing maybe 2 months. We are now going to 3 on a shift, one shift supervisor with 2 part time(I know don't start they claim they can't get approval for 3 full time on a shift for budgets reasons). They haven't said how many part time they plan to hire but we think around 8. Which will make 8 32 hour part time, 4 shift supervisors, and they can have any number of regular part time. (the 32 hour part time have some benefits, including health coverage the regular have no benefits). But current staffing is at 6 full time, 2 32 hour part time, 2 regular part time, and 2 people in APCO basic now start the first week of April in training for 32 hour spots. However possibly 2 full time people are transferring to another spot in our agency, 1 32 hour part time was just hired to the road, 1 regular part time is unavailable in fire school until the middle of April and will need some refresh training when he gets back. And another 32 hour part time has expressed interest in a full time opening in another area of our agency. If that all happens we are down to 4 full time, no 32 hour part time, 2 regular part time, and 2 in training. (Of course there has been talk of holding these people in their current positions until we can get staffing up.) Needless to say overtime is plentiful at my place. Did this make any sense to anyone at all?? They are announcing the supervisor positions this week (maybe), interviews & testing are done. This might change the mix some, 5 people applied. Sara Winfield Union County Ohio winfield@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 It's hard to explain. At the Law Enforcement Support Agency (LESA) in Tacoma, Wa, there are 30 dispatchers who fill 6 positions per shift (day/swing/grave). We are currently about 3 short (which is the best I've seen in many years). We have about 45 calltakers who cover the 3 shifts with day having 5 minimum, swing having 7 minimum and grave having 3 minimum, but swing is staggered and gets off at 0300. That sure sounds confusing, but there is the usual GOBS of overtime with people calling in sick/pregnant/or whatever. And we don't count the supervisors, 2 per shift, because they don't cover for dispatchers....but they do at time answer phones! Bob in Tacoma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 Anyone working " 12 hr shifts " Could you send me a copy of your schedule I am curious to see how they work (rotating and/or fixed days off).... We are trying to find a alternative to what we are working now. We currently work 12's but have to work a 4 hr day or night in order to be FLSA compliant Please send them to: Sarpy County Communications Center 1210 Golden Gate Dr Papillion, NB 68028 Attn:Lead Operator Whalen Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 Exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 that is what we do now but we use to work a 8 instead of coming in on one of our regular nights off and working a 4 harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 We have the exact same shift 6a-6p. Do you have set days or is it 4 on 4 off? Ours are set, Sun-Tues and Thurs-Sat. We rotate Weds, so we have 1 or 2 4day work weeks a month, to make up for the hours short the rest of the month. Don't ask me how it works but they have been doing it a long time and swear it works. I like the long weekend and our turnover isn't to bad. 4 of us have be there more that 3 years and we have 10. Others have been there 1-2 years. We have 2 very new ones on nightshift. We dispatch, police, fire, ems, basically, the whole county. We have 2 on per shift , although there are times we have worked shifts with just 1. Sometimes we need 3, 1 just to answer phones...We also have 2 911 consoles. Dana This is not the opinion of my Department, just my own, which probably stinks most of the time. Will serve proudly anyway. =^'''^= ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 Are you saying they have you in 12 hour shifts, but are keeping you at 40 hours a week to avoid paying overtime? EJ --- Original Message --- From: hwfishin@... Anyone working " 12 hr shifts "  Could you send me a copy of your schedule ..... We currently work 12's but have to work a 4 hr day or night in order to be FLSA compliant   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 We do 3 12's and a 4 every week. 40 hours per week. Central Yavapai Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2000 Report Share Posted March 28, 2000 Hey Chuck, Perhaps you should drop the one of the reporters a letter. Vern Retired Served Proudly .......................snip.............................. .. But, our bloody lye'n, cheat'n, > politians keep telling the public that all's fine with crime in > decline. If > the news reporters ever bother to ask dispatchers and road crews > they'll get > a completely different view on this. > > Chuck > Sydney, Australia > (Temporary HQ in Central Ohio) > ______________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2000 Report Share Posted March 29, 2000 It's an easy answer. Easy to come up with, easy to throw out on the table. Hard to argue with it. I heard that lack of funds cannot be used as an excuse not to train. This was directed to police, but could easily apply to dispatchers. Has anyone else heard this? annette hallmark ahallmark@... <snip> I was recently told, there isn't enough money in the budget to supply me with the additional personnel. Imagine That!!! > Yvetta > Supervisor Emergency Communications > yvetta.collins@... > > <<snip>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2000 Report Share Posted March 29, 2000 > To: <911consoleonelist> > Importance: Normal > Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 08:01:47 -0600 > > Reply-to: 911consoleonelist > Subject: RE: 911:: Center staffing > > > I heard that lack of funds cannot be used as an > excuse not to train. This was directed to police, but could easily apply to > dispatchers. Has anyone else heard this? > annette hallmark ------------<snip>------------- I'd also be interested in identifying the source, where was it heard from? Is this an arguement that can be shared by all? Nick Wagner Cortland Co. (NY) Sheriff's Dept E9-1-1 Center/Sr. Supervisor mailto:nwagner@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2000 Report Share Posted March 29, 2000 We're on 3 12s and a 4 each week as well. When I started we did 3 12s and with an extra 12 once a month. They had been on that schedule long before I joined, but then the chief sad we couldn't do that anymore because it was against some policy/law. The were threatening 5 8s, but we went to 3 12s and a 4 instead. Our current union contract says that if all parties agree, we can work based on 80 hours every two weeks, so we've started that process. That would let us do 3 12s with an 8 every other week (that's what our officers work). Anything over 80 hours in the two week period would be overtime. Going into work for a 4 hour shift can be a pain sometimes, but with all the overtime it's hard to remember what are schedule is supposed to be... Dunn UCLA Police Department Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2000 Report Share Posted March 30, 2000 I don't know much about the labor laws the union contracts, but here goes nothing. About 2 years we changed unions, to one called CUE (coalition of university employees). Since then, they have been negotiating a new contract. CUE and the university have been unable to agree on a new contract yet, so we are still bound by the old one from the old union (AFSCME). Part of that contract stays that alternate work schedules can be established by the university based on 80 hours in two weeks or 120 hours in three weeks. The employees can also request an alternate work schedule, to be approved by the university. It's built into the contract that we can ask, of course the neither the university, nor the chief has to let us. We recently sent a proposal to our new union requesting that the 2 week/80 hour schedule be added to the new contract. CUE will be presenting that to the university at the next bargaining session. If that gets approved, we should have an easier time getting our department to let us change to that schedule. I hope this made sense, let me know if you have more questions. Dunn UCLA PD > From: dawngp143@... > > Hi all, I'm new to these parts, but this post prompted a request. , I'm > very interested in what your union rep has to say about this 80 work week > thing. My center currently employs 43 operators...the breakdown of who works > where is too difficult to get into at this point in time. We're the county > PSAP for 46 municipalities in NJ, and dispatch for most of the Fire and EMS > for those towns. Additionally, we handle the county sheriffs, as well as 5 > police departments. > > We've been working 3 12 hour shifts a week, with another 8 hour shift every 2 > weeks to get us to 80 hours in the pay period. In the process of negotiating > for our new contract, our union rep informed us that we were in fact in > violation of a federal law (I have no idea what the technicalities are, just > that we are in violation) since most pay periods consist of either a 36 hour > week and a 44 hour week, OR, in some cases, a 32 hour week and a 48 hour > week. We are not being paid overtime for the additional hours because we > have 80 hours in the pay period. This is working fine for all the operators > in the center, but now something needs to be done. > > We've tried different adjustments to the schedule to incorporate the policy > and haven't come up with a solution. We don't want to be forced back to 5 8 > hour shifts again. Anyone have any suggestions? I know that would be > difficult without actually knowing how our schedule works, but I can fax to > you if you think you might be able to help. We currently work 4 > squads...normal shifts are 7-7, but we also have 2 swing shifts...11-11 and > 3-3. Very difficult to explain who works the swings etc. E-mail me if you > have any suggestions for us. > > Thanks in advance. > > Dawn Price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2000 Report Share Posted April 1, 2000 >Part of that contract stays that alternate work schedules can be >established by the university based on 80 hours in two weeks or 120 hours in three weeks. The employees can also request an alternate work schedule, to be approved by the university.< >We recently sent a proposal to our new union requesting that the 2 week/80 >hour schedule be added to the new contract.< Unless you are being paid overtime for any hours in excess of 40 in a given week, this is still a violation of Fair Labor Standards Act. It is not legal to negotiate a contract that violates FLSA, so even if you all agree to do it, it is not legal. Kristy Oxholm U of VT Police Burlington, VT ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2000 Report Share Posted April 2, 2000 In a message dated 3/29/2000 12:03:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time, vkg000@... writes: << But, our bloody lye'n, cheat'n, politians keep telling the public that all's fine with crime in decline >> Hey Chuck... dont hold back... tell us how it really is Toni Wyman, (CTO)...Gwinnett County Police, GA ( just N of HotLanta) 770 Hi Hope Rd, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 (These are only my opinions, not my agency's, after all they are the government and they have opinions of their own) For liability reasons my posts and opinions are to be reprinted with my permission only Email to: E911gal136@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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