Re: 911:: Fw: Police Get Call for 911 Dispatching Help

[Guest guest]

<<- just because they are commissioned does NOT mean they can do a

better job than a civilian>>

It also does not mean they can't do a better job. In some, or most,

instances it is more cost effective to have a commissioned officer doing the

dispatching/call taking, or whatever your (generic your)center calls the

snuffies. Commissioned officers can settle disputes, quote law, take

reports, exorcise, baptize and confirm knighthood all over the phone.

We have deputies and officers on disablility or light duty in the center

often, and they take a great load off the field units.

Bob in Tacoma

Dispatcher

Law Enforcement Support Agency

[Guest guest]

As I have experienced it, commissioned officers do not WANT to be sitting in

dispatch. This " desire " they have to be out on the street harbors a bad

attitude when they are assigned to the dispatch function. I'm not saying all of

them, but a good majority of them. They think they are better than that. With

exception to Bob's comment about officers on disability or light duty, I'd

rather they just keep the patrolmen on the street and let us " civilians " do

what we do. Believe it or not, communications officers can also settle disputes

and quote law. (no I do not mean dispense legal advice). Not that we should be

doing that in place of dispatching an officer, but doesn't our training teach

us how to make attempts to quell an " out-of-hand " situation until we can get an

officer there? Mine did. I don't think an officer in dispatch can do any better

than a good dispatcher. Just my opinions ...

J. Fred Ayars

Salem County NJ

" Cournoyer, Bob (LESA Com) " wrote:

> <<- just because they are commissioned does NOT mean they can do a

> better job than a civilian>>

>

> It also does not mean they can't do a better job. In some, or most,

> instances it is more cost effective to have a commissioned officer doing the

> dispatching/call taking, or whatever your (generic your)center calls the

> snuffies. Commissioned officers can settle disputes, quote law, take

> reports, exorcise, baptize and confirm knighthood all over the phone.

> We have deputies and officers on disablility or light duty in the center

> often, and they take a great load off the field units.

>

> Bob in Tacoma

> Dispatcher

> Law Enforcement Support Agency

[Guest guest]

Hello all, I'm a cop and I'll tell you what, I CANT do what you communicators

do!!! I give you guys a ton of credit for being able to handle people and

situations on the phone and on the radio. Very early in my career I gained

alot of respect and admiration for telecommunicators. Some cops dont feel

the way I do, but they'll learn, it just takes a while.

The last thing I ever thought I would have to do on this job was to shoot and

kill someone. Well early in my career I had to use deadly force. During a

very tense and dangerous situation the only person who I could yell at for

help was my communicator! She came thru for me and kept her head together

while getting me the assistance I needed and fast... My hats are off to all

telecommunicators, you guys are great, and you do a great job. THANK YOU.

P.O. Joe Blanco

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/09/2000 12:33:08 PM Eastern Standard Time,

scott@... writes:

<< I must ask why some of your " brothers in arms " feel that it is necessary

to be so rude to the dispatchers. >>

,

You hit the nail squarely on the head! In my 15 years as a police/fire

dispatcher I too have had a problem (or a 1000) with police

officers/demi-gods. You are right. The FTOs are passing on their bad

habits, poor opinions and fragile egos to newer officers. The idea that

these men and women are the Almighty does start in many of their minds in

their academy.

But, there are those out there who appreciate us. There are those who know

that we ARE their life lines and their only source of help in many

situations. By the way, firefighters don't seem to share the poor opinions

of police officers with regard to dispatchers.

Regardless of the officer's thoughts on the subject, every night I go home

secure in the knowledge that, for better or worse, I did the best job I know

how to do. I am a professional in every sense of the word. Without me, no

one goes anywhere. My only goal is to make sure that those officers and

firefighters go home too. You can take that to the bank!

Stacey

Lexington Fire Department

[Guest guest]

Hi , you have alot of valid points. We also have guys on the street who

are now FTO's and I'll tell you what I wouldnt want my son or daughter being

trained by them. Remember something alot of these new officers are

young, and they think they know it all. It's up to their supervisors to

bring them back down to earth when they get rude or become a smarta--.

We are running into situations where the experienced officers does not want

to train someone. So many departments are left with newer officers as fto's.

I'm an fto and I'm ready to give it up. But my trainees know that the

person on the other side of the mic is human and needs to be treated as such.

You treat folks the way you want to be treated. When I was writing my

Survival Spanish for Telecommunicator's book I sat and plugged in for a whole

week. I learned alittle bit of what goes on in the comm center. The Police

departments need to have the recruits sit at comm for a few days to

experience the work that you guys do.

And one more thing I teach my trainees, " if you go to visit comm, dont go

empty handed " . Bagels, donuts, muffins bring something, it goes along way

for them..

Take care all and stay safe.. Joe Blanco

[Guest guest]

>Hello all, I'm a cop and I'll tell you what, I CANT do what you communicators

>do!!! I give you guys a ton of credit for being able to handle people and

>situations on the phone and on the radio. Very early in my career I gained

>alot of respect and admiration for telecommunicators. Some cops dont feel

>the way I do, but they'll learn, it just takes a while.

>

>The last thing I ever thought I would have to do on this job was to shoot and

>kill someone. Well early in my career I had to use deadly force. During a

>very tense and dangerous situation the only person who I could yell at for

>help was my communicator! She came thru for me and kept her head together

>while getting me the assistance I needed and fast... My hats are off to all

>telecommunicators, you guys are great, and you do a great job. THANK YOU.

> P.O. Joe Blanco

>********************************************************************

Joe, thanks for your very kind words.

I must ask why some of your " brothers in arms " feel that it is necessary to be

so rude to the dispatchers. We don't go through

the training that the officers do, we don't deal with as many people on a face

to face basis as you, we don't go to court, we

don't carry weapons, etc etc, however, (and here is where training for ALL

officers is drastically overrated), during training in an

" academy " atmosphere the trainees are lead to believe they are the best thing on

the road/street since the invention of the

automobile. I have 25 years experience behind the mic, and see where our

organization makes it errors. They have several

FTO (field training officers) that were trained poorly, exhibit poor enforcement

methods (racial profiling, antagonizing mental

patients, etc). This officer is now training new officers. It is very easy to

see who he trained, they all do pretty much the same

things. One of his trainees told me, that I was just a dispatcher and his job

was far more important. I told him ok, when you get

into a fight with a guy that is about to clean your clock and you reach for that

radio to yell for help just remember who you told

had an unimportant job. He didn't get it. Few of the new officers in the last

10 years do.

What the hell has happened? Whatever happened to the officer that just did

his/her job, didn't give you 20 excuses why they

couldn't go to that dead deer on the road way call (then go out for a coffee

break)? I know some of this (a lot of this) fall

squarely on the backs of lower, middle and upper management. But no one will

take the reigns and stop this maddness.

As long as you write a lot of tickets, I don't care who's rights you violate,

should be the motto.

Iowa State Patrol Communications Cedar Rapids

Werling, Anamosa,IA

mailto:scott@...

http://www.jonescountytourism.com

http://www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html

http://www.thehungersite.com (feed someone)

http://www.earthsat.com/Iowa/Winter.htm (IA road reports)

[Guest guest]

> We are running into situations where the experienced officers does not

want

> to train someone. So many departments are left with newer officers as

fto's.

> I'm an fto and I'm ready to give it up. But my trainees know that the

> person on the other side of the mic is human and needs to be treated as

such.

> You treat folks the way you want to be treated. When I was writing my

> Survival Spanish for Telecommunicator's book I sat and plugged in for a

whole

> week. I learned alittle bit of what goes on in the comm center. The

Police

> departments need to have the recruits sit at comm for a few days to

> experience the work that you guys do.

>

> And one more thing I teach my trainees, " if you go to visit comm, dont go

> empty handed " . Bagels, donuts, muffins bring something, it goes along way

> for them..

> Take care all and stay safe.. Joe Blanco

> ********************************************************************

Joe, can you transfer to the Iowa State Patrol, like right now? Or

yesterday?

Actually, people like you are so few and far between any more. And it is so

scary how you have just described the patrol in Iowa. Newbies training

newbies. And yes they all know everything anyway. There is a policy on the

books for the newbies to spend 1 shift in radio. They last about 2 hours

tops. We did have a couple that came over just AFTER their training session

ended and had been assigned their own patrol cars. They were genuinely

interested in us & the radio work. They turned out to be the best ones we

ever worked.

However, unlike 10-15 years ago when the people you describe were counted on

one hand and summarily ostracized, now they are the norm without fail.

One trooper that was well thought of and highly regarded by his supervisors

(very high ticket writer), was seen jogging along Interstate 80 wearing a

gas mask, killed a tree in his front yard practicing with his PR-24, and was

nearly arrested for domestic abuse by using the same PR-24 on wife and 1 of

2 kids. He was " allowed " to resign. Geez, what a place.

Thanks again, Joe.

Iowa State Patrol Communications Cedar Rapids

Werling, Anamosa, IA AOL IM Ridgeroader

http://www.jonescountytourism.com

http://www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html

http://www.earthsat.com/Iowa/Winter.html (roads)

http://www.thehungersite.com (feed someone today)

mailto:scott@...

[Guest guest]

Hi , thanks for the job offer, but for now I'm looking in the northeast.

That trooper you mentioned sounded like someone who did not need to be in

law enforcement. We have some guys that think they are troopers. All they

do is traffic enforcement. Well the bottom line is that when they start

paying us 35-45% more money (what we in law enforcement deserve) then we'll

get better rounded individuals. If I ever run for public office the change

is to saleries and benefits of all who are involved in public safety..

Take care and stay safe.. Joe