Guest guest Posted July 29, 2000 Report Share Posted July 29, 2000 << And if you're handling emergency traffic when he/she does this you have every right to put him/her on standby. In fact.... you should. ( but don't forget to get back to him/her) (grin) >> The funny part was the trainee said to standby. Most employees jump to attention when the chief calls on the radio. He's really a good guy and doesn't get upset if he's put on hold..... he's also famous for asking " do you have an officer in such & such area " ? and when told either no or I don't know won't continue on with why he wants to know and it usually turns out he's spotted a reckless driver or a suspicious person. I've told him on several occasions that all he needs to say is " send a car to xyz location because of......... " . Unlike an Ohio chief, ours does have a sense of humor. When we moved into our new offices a few years ago, the chief told me the only picture I was authorized to display in my office was a picture of him. I kept asking him for a picture and he'd just grin. 6 months later we had new department pics taken so I ordered a 5x7 of the chiefs portrait and put it in a nice frame on my desk. The captain was the first to notice it and laughed when I told him the story behind the photo, then brought me a wallet sized copy of his portrait to add to the frame. Then the admin Sgt saw it and again, I added another wallet sized photo to the frame. TWO months later, the chief FINALLY noticed the framed photos and he about had a cow. told me to take it off my desk. It stayed there until I vacated the office. It now hangs in my locker!!!! Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 In a message dated 07/29/2000 9:09:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rweintraut@... writes: << >You see, our chief (whose call sign is Adam One) is notorious for doing just this.. in the middle of a major call will come up on the secondary channel to ask what's going on.< >> Our Chief, Director, Captain AND Deputy Chief will rush into the radio room and in plain view of every 911 line ringing, the radios blaring, and with both dispatchers juggling 3 or more phone lines and INSIST on being told EXACTLY what is going on. And if by chance they have wandered out of the building, they will call on a phone line and ask same. Wish I knew a great was to " respectfully " tell them to buzz off and wait a few minutes till the crisis has passed and we have all the necessary equipment enroute. patty BTPD NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 I generally don't butt in however being a supervisor I have to say my piece. By time you tell them to buzz off and wait a few minutes you could of told them what is going on. It can't be that difficult to say major accident on the highway could you please help out and answer some incoming calls for a few. a Eberhard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 > >> > > The funny part was the trainee said to standby. Most employees jump to > attention when the chief calls on the radio -------------------------------------------------------- Sitting in the radio room the other day a staticy voice comes over the air and all we hear is one, thinking a unit has cut off its number the operator asks for a repeat. " Car one, the Sheriff himelf, he had responded to an injury accident, he gave us an update and stood by for our patrol unit to get there. Operator was verrry suprised. Our previous Sheriff would be out at odd times. Imagine sitting in a quiet office about o dark thirty, nothing going on and hearing Car One, give me a listing on----------------------. Oy, yes the pucker factor do go up. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 I've got a classic Chief story from just the other night... I was working one of our police channels and put out an ATL for a reckless driver, time lapse of 25 minutes. As I finished giving out the details, the Chief came over the radio and had the gall to initiate a reprimand by saying " Dispatch, explain to me why you waited 25 minutes to put out that ATL. " I, being less than thrilled shot right back " Alpha 1, I didn't wait 25 minutes, the complainant did. " A very humbled voice came back over the radio with a meek " Copy... sorry. " What more can you do? Terry Shaw, Communications Supervisor Valley Emergency Communications Center PO Box 57040 Murray, UT. 84157-0040 Website: www.vecc9-1-1.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 >It can't be that difficult to say major accident on the highway< Oh... but sometimes it is... In most of the agencies I've worked, it's one dispatcher... ONE... This dispatcher has to get emergency crews, police, EMS, whatever is necessary enroute. Many many things happening... while also taking care of radio traffic... incoming phone calls... it goes on and on... Getting the emergency personnel enroute is my number one priority. Also in my list of thing to do is to let command know what is going on. I'll do that.... But my first priority is to get help on the way... I don't need to be bothered for a few minutes with a question and answer session. I understand your point... I'm a supervisor also.. In this case I'll have to agree with the dispatcher. Weintraut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 THE CHIEF HE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE RIGHT, BUT HE IS ALWAYS THE CHIEF Vern Gypsy0005@... wrote: > > In a message dated 07/29/2000 9:09:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > rweintraut@... writes: > > << >You see, our chief (whose call sign is Adam One) is > notorious for doing just this.. in the middle of a major call will > come up on > the secondary channel to ask what's going on.< >..............snip............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 In a message dated 07/30/2000 2:35:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ect254@... writes: << I generally don't butt in however being a supervisor I have to say my piece. By time you tell them to buzz off and wait a few minutes you could of told them what is going on. >> Unfortunately, at least where I work, that is SELDOM enough. That statement would then be followed by many, many questions such as, " Did you dispatch a squad, Does the road supervisor know, Do you have a car on the way " ? Etc,etc,etc. All questions that certainly seem unnecessary at the moment. I am fortunate enough to work with a top notch bunch of dispatchers. We all work well together and are extremely capable. The questions that are sometimes thrown at us in the midst of a crisis are often unnecessary AND insulting. We make it a point, as well as department policy, to keep the " powers that be " from our road Sgt. up the line up to the minute on any and every important call. If there is something going on that they should know about, we are the ones that start that ball rolling. Those folks at the top didn't start at the top, but on the road where we are. I'm always amazed how much they " forgot " on the way up. Am I being crabby or is it too much to ask that they might perhaps stand back and listen for a minute or two. They'd hear the whole event unfold if they'd take a minute or two to listen after they enter the radio room. Unfortunately, the minute they ask for from us as an event is unfolding we just don't have to give them..... Patty BTPD NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 << It can't be that difficult to say major accident on the highway could you please help out and answer some incoming calls for a few. >> a, I know you wern't being funny but this statement to my brass would produce the following: 1) The chief running out of the room, 2) The admin captain staring at the phone trying to figure out how to push the button that is flashing, and 3) The ops captain spending 10 minutes trying to tell a caller they need to hold for the dispatcher!!! Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 We are fortunate to have 10-12 dispatchers/calltakers working at any given time. We are good at working together, and one of us will let the supervisor know what's going on so he can make the necessary notifications, and then any follow-up calls from Admin types ring straight to his desk. It's a pretty good system. And I mind calls from Cpt So-and-so, who was asleep, than I do the calls from Patty Perky over at Channel --, who was awake but not really paying attention when her scanner squawked, so she only caught part of it and has to call me, scanner still squawking in the background. I have " gone off " on more than one occasion, while trying to dispatch a fire alarm and a heart call, only to have Patty call because she didn't realize it was only an alarm.... Guess saying " phone in fire alarm " wasn't a big enough clue! :-) Re: 911:: The Chief >>It can't be that difficult to say major accident on >the highway< > >Oh... but sometimes it is... > >In most of the agencies I've worked, it's one dispatcher... ONE... > >This dispatcher has to get emergency crews, police, EMS, whatever >is necessary enroute. Many many things happening... while also taking >care of radio traffic... incoming phone calls... it goes on and on... > >Getting the emergency personnel enroute is my number one priority. > >Also in my list of thing to do is to let command know what is going on. > >I'll do that.... > >But my first priority is to get help on the way... I don't need to be >bothered for a few minutes with a question and answer session. > >I understand your point... I'm a supervisor also.. In this case I'll >have to agree with the dispatcher. > >Weintraut > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 Yaaaaay!!! Hooray for you!!! That's grreat! I wish I could do that! Lyn magik@... Re: 911:: The Chief > I've got a classic Chief story from just the other night... > > I was working one of our police channels and put out an ATL for a reckless > driver, time lapse of 25 minutes. As I finished giving out the details, the > Chief came over the radio and had the gall to initiate a reprimand by saying > " Dispatch, explain to me why you waited 25 minutes to put out that ATL. " I, > being less than thrilled shot right back " Alpha 1, I didn't wait 25 minutes, > the complainant did. " A very humbled voice came back over the radio with a > meek " Copy... sorry. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 Ain't it the pits when you gotta respect the office, but not the person? Lyn magik@... Re: 911:: The Chief > THE CHIEF > > HE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE RIGHT, > BUT HE IS ALWAYS > THE CHIEF > Vern > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2000 Report Share Posted July 31, 2000 Having retired as a commander, I feel that if your responsibility included incidents on the street, it was your responsibility to listen to the damn radio, so you would know what the hell was going on. That isn't to say that you don't miss a call now and then, but when you wander into communications, shut up and listen for a minute and you'll probably know what is going on. I can't honestly say that I didn't call dispatch and ask once in a while, but I tried not to make it a habit. I think the chief should call his/her watch commander and ask what's going on, not call dispatch. That way if dispatch must be interrupted only one person has to do it, not the whole damn staff. I now believe that when an emergency begins, there ought to be a foot petal that slams the exterior doors shut and dead bolts them, similar to the old Get Smart program, to keep out the staff tourists. Rich 1010WC ect254@... wrote: > I generally don't butt in however being a supervisor I have to say my piece. > By time you tell them to buzz off and wait a few minutes you could of told > them what is going on. It can't be that difficult to say major accident on > the highway could you please help out and answer some incoming calls for a > few. > > a Eberhard > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2000 Report Share Posted July 31, 2000 So true, my friend . If you are the one and only dispatcher and you are responsible for police, fire, squad, and every other phase of operations in the radio room, it's hell on wheels. Plus you are responsible for putting the air crew on standby, and paging in any extra shifts that fire and squad may need. Lyn magik@... Re: 911:: The Chief > >It can't be that difficult to say major accident on > the highway< > > Oh... but sometimes it is... > > In most of the agencies I've worked, it's one dispatcher... ONE... > > This dispatcher has to get emergency crews, police, EMS, whatever > is necessary enroute. Many many things happening... while also taking > care of radio traffic... incoming phone calls... it goes on and on... > > Getting the emergency personnel enroute is my number one priority. > > Also in my list of thing to do is to let command know what is going on. > > I'll do that.... > > But my first priority is to get help on the way... I don't need to be > bothered for a few minutes with a question and answer session. > > I understand your point... I'm a supervisor also.. In this case I'll > have to agree with the dispatcher. > > Weintraut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2000 Report Share Posted July 31, 2000 That would be alright if it was just left at that. But usually the admin types want to know: Major Accident.... Where/when/ officer on scene/ supervisor on scene/ FD EMS on scene/ what happened / names of people involved and (in our case) if the victim/suspects/witnesses are students AND IF SO has CIRT been called!!!! And all of this BEFORE the officers arrive on scene! It's not just a small blerp of " we had a major accident at e main dr and e main circle " . It's a whole dissertation of the call! And by the way, the person who is the worst about this doesn't even know how to operate the phones (you just pickup the handset and press the blinking light), much less would offer or stoop so low as to help the dispatcher answer the phones. The only reason why he wants this information is so he can be viewed as " very informed " to the news media people..... (He's also the first to say that he couldn't do our job, but gives us no support in making it easier) And Vern wrote: (And this isn't a dis on you Vern...I'm a little irritated at my director right now) THE CHIEF HE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE RIGHT, BUT HE IS ALWAYS THE CHIEF My answer is ..... SO???????? Just because he is the Chief doesn't give him the right to endanger the lives of people I work with and citizens by insisting on STUPID stuff and STUPID priviledges during emergency situations!!!! He should be the first to insist that the dispatchers CYAgency by treating people in order of incident priority - not by political or department ranks. Dispatchers should be allowed to be rank/political and " I'm a friend/relative of.... " - blind. ESPECIALLY during emergencies..... Basically, DON'T BE MAD IF WE PUT YOU ON HOLD WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO DISPATCH A THEFT IN PROGRESS WITH AN EYEWITNESS ON THE PHONE AND ALL YOU WANT IS INFORMATION ABOUT A CALL THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT!!!!! *whew* Can you tell I'm in a BAD mood......? annette hallmark ahallmark@... ect254@... wrote: > I generally don't butt in however being a supervisor I have to say my piece. > By time you tell them to buzz off and wait a few minutes you could of told > them what is going on. It can't be that difficult to say major accident on > the highway could you please help out and answer some incoming calls for a > few. > > a Eberhard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2000 Report Share Posted July 31, 2000 In a message dated 07/31/2000 12:43:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rjmorrison@... writes: << I now believe that when an emergency begins, there ought to be a foot petal that slams the exterior doors shut and dead bolts them, similar to the old Get Smart program, to keep out the staff tourists. >> OMG!!!! Where can we get one of these buttons??? We'll take 2!! patty BTPD NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2000 Report Share Posted August 1, 2000 In a message dated 08/01/2000 10:10:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ahallmark@... writes: << I the case of my department, this is not true. Our director is " Old FBI " and according to him the FBI is the know all and end all of all law enforcement knowledge. Case in point - the FBI agents were not issued raincoats, therefore, UPD patrol officers do not get issued USABLE raincoats. (we have raincoats, but they aren't fit to be called raincoats). >> Sorry to hear that. At least our " powers that be " did start as patrolmen many, many moons ago. Doesn't seem to help though. The raincoat bit sounds very much like the thinking of the State Police here. These poor guys walk around in long sleeve, class A uniforms 365 days a year. No matter the weather may be 100 plus degrees. The patrol cars do not have cages for transporting prisoners. When asked about this, those in charge will tell you that they wore long sleeve uniforms 100 years ago and didn't need any special equipment in the cars for transporting prisoners so if it was good enough for them then its good enough for the men and women on the street now! Can anyone say, " 21st century " ?? patty BTPD NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2000 Report Share Posted August 1, 2000 Patty wrote: <<snip>> Those folks at the top didn't start at the top, but on the road where we are. <<snip>> I the case of my department, this is not true. Our director is " Old FBI " and according to him the FBI is the know all and end all of all law enforcement knowledge. Case in point - the FBI agents were not issued raincoats, therefore, UPD patrol officers do not get issued USABLE raincoats. (we have raincoats, but they aren't fit to be called raincoats). He never made a traffic stop, never worked an accident, never did foot patrol and pulled on doors. Never sat in dispatch and answered the phones while trying to talk on the radio and run driver license checks. Oh he's good at speeches, especially when putting other people down. He started at the top and has tried to keep his feet out of the muck as much as possible. Now, he is shutting the door, keeping the muck outside and to quiet the noise of dissention. When he comes " downstairs " it's like the curtained litters of old. He doesn't have to get his feet dirty and the curtain shields him from the rabble. *sigh* annette hallmark ahallmark@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2000 Report Share Posted August 1, 2000 <<snip>> The patrol cars do not have cages for transporting prisoners. When asked about this, those in charge will tell you that they wore long sleeve uniforms 100 years ago and didn't need any special equipment in the cars for transporting prisoners so if it was good enough for them then its good enough for the men and women on the street now! Can anyone say, " 21st century " ?? patty <<snip>> Can anyone say " officer safety " ? The pony express was good enough about 150 years ago, should we still be using that to transport our mail? Also, the first patrol cars didn't have a bunch of pretty flashing lights, sirens and wigwags. Does that mean we all have to have the Dragnet style bubble light on the patrol cars and the one siren that just goes WWWOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH......? They didnt' have seat belts, so why should they have them now? Also, the ran on regular gas, I guess we have to take the cataletic converters out too. Hey, we didn't have radios, but call boxes that officers turned a key in when they reached the end of their foot beat. the first radios in patrol calls just received with no ability to transmit. should we get rid of the radios too? AACCKKKKKK! Boy, am I on a roll......... Yeck! annette hallmark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2000 Report Share Posted August 1, 2000 We were all reminded in a staff meeting that our Chief has " walked a mile in our moccasins " . (many moons ago) As far as I can tell, there is only one positive thing in regards to that statement....he is a mile away. Negative side? He has our moccasins. Lyn magik@... Re: 911:: The Chief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2000 Report Share Posted August 1, 2000 To: <911consoleegroups> Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 7:09 AM Subject: RE: 911:: The Chief > > Patty wrote: > <<snip>> > Those folks at the top didn't start at the top, but on the road where we > are. > <<snip>> > > > I the case of my department, this is not true. Our director is " Old FBI " > and according to him the FBI is the know all and end all of all law > enforcement knowledge ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- Question: What are the three most overated things in the world? Answer: Home cooking, home sex, and THE FBI Somewhere in the depths of Tn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2000 Report Share Posted August 2, 2000 > << >You see, our chief (whose call sign is Adam One) > is > notorious for doing just this.. in the middle of a > major call will come up on > the secondary channel to ask what's going on.< > >> how about detective division running into dispatch and NOT shutting up until yelled at, in middle of county pursuit to see what's up, when dispatchers for 2 cities are trying to coordinate over phone, because lead car is hers, and he's out of her radio range, and our units are playing field for SO units, and trying to relay/copy SO channel, to relay to ALL???????? like they don't have portables and can listen???? i got the crystal ball award for saying the pursuit would head north, cut over and come back toward our town...but had no one to share with, as i had kicked detectives out by then........ how did these ofcrs/admin make it out of patrol????? they KNOW what it's like in pursuits/critical incidents... just venting some too shauna in la __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2000 Report Share Posted August 2, 2000 > I now believe that when > an emergency begins, there ought to be a foot petal > that slams the exterior > doors shut and dead bolts them, similar to the old > Get Smart program, to keep > out the staff tourists. > Rich > 1010WC > > where o where can we get one of THOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they'd be soundproof as well, right????????? (snicker snicker) shauna in la __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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