Re: 911:: Comm Centre Survey

[Guest guest]

We have a TV (with cable) in our comm center and in our break room. The one

in the comm center is on all the time, though usually muted and on the

weather channel. Rare occasions we will watch an football game or something,

but usually weather or news. Recently, there have been a lot of live

broadcasts for the news from right outside the station, so it's nice to be

able to hear what the world is hearing.

In my old comm center, no TV, just a radio.

[Guest guest]

We never had a TV in Comm until about 4 or 5 months ago. Had some bad weather

approach, and we pulled out the set that used to sit in our kitchen/breakroom.

For a long period, it sat in the middle of one of the entry doors to comm, with

cables hanging from the connection through the drop ceiling. We held our breaths

as Chief walked in, but he didn't say a word. After a period of time, we moved

the TV to a place inside the comm itself, and bought more cabling, then

rearranged the cables connecting the TV to cable, ran them neatly through the

fire wall breach for the other wires and placed all drop ceiling panels into

place neatly. Comm door closes nicely, there are no visible cables hanging

between comm and the hall and the Admin have made NO unhappy motions of removing

it! We do watch weather channel when there is bad weather coming...but we also

watch other things. I try to monitor that nothing " objectionable " comes

over...like some of the music videos (wooo boy). The other issue was noise...we

purchased a universal remote (no one knows where the original remote went) and

will lower or mute the tv for radio traffic. As long as there is no feedback to

the radios, and everyone can hear what is going on, all seems to be great so

far. We have cable, not the premium channels, but we get the ones most everyone

wants to see. There is also an extra VCR in comm and it has been used to watch

new videos and even videos from the officers' cars at times! This is all so new,

there is no WRITTEN policy on use...but we are all attempting to utilize common

sense and hope that this nice treat remains in effect for a long time.

Freida

LaVergne,TN

[Guest guest]

When working in EMS we had a TV and VCR, during day it was on Weather

channel or CNN. During overnight shift we could watch movie, work load

permitting of course.

Now that I am at PD we have no TV, we do have a radio though, that count?

LOL.

Jen

Ft Walton Beach PD

Ft Walton Beach, FL

[Guest guest]

Subject: Re: 911:: Comm Centre Survey

We have a TV with local channels and CNN, but strangely enough, NOT the

weather channel, go figure! We are encouraged to watch the news when it is

on, but are allowed to watch other programming or pre-recorded videos, as

long as it does not interfere with our jobs. Once again, common sense is

the theme song.

[Guest guest]

> > I am doing an unofficial study on the effects of Comm centre policies

and

> > pratices when it comes to having access to a television for those down

> > times. I have been in emergency communications for the past 11years

> working

> > for a provincial police agency in Canada.

> > Gerry Daypray

_______________________________________________________

We have one with a VCR in it. We have been told we can watch TV during

quiet times, but the powers that be expect that it be off or volume off if

busy. (well duh).

During the day it is on CNN or the weather channel, with occasional visits

to ESPN or The Deuce, but due to the volume of traffic is mostly ignored.

The evening shift (2 people) will agree on a show at watch it but, again, if

busy the volume goes down.

On mids (my shift) I can and have brought in movies or TV shows I didn't get

to see and watch them but the volume is down.

If it were up to me, I would have the tech hook up the TV audio to an

un-used channel on our panels so the operator could adjust the volume as

needed. Then there wouldn't be the lag time to grab the remote and mute or

turn it down.

Plus if you got busy and I wasn't I could continue to watch and listen while

you worked. I have tried to jeri-rig something but it doesn't work very

well.

We have no written policy as of this writing. Is that redundant?

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]

<<<<<<<<<<<<<snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What???? How about the old fashioned idea of holding the person(s)

responsible for their actions? More evidence of how we are " dumbing down "

our culture/society. What a shame!

Marcia

<<<<<<<<<<<<<snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Are you kidding Marcia? That would be logical and make sense. Anything

that is logical or common sense does not take place at our dispatch center.

Am I alone?

Oh and by the way, after rereading my posting, I thought I should clarify

one sentence;

<<<<<<<<<<<snip>>>>>>>>>>

We are allowed to watch anything we want(expect XXX movies, etc.).

<<<<<<<<<<<snip>>>>>>>>>>

Major typo there on one word and it kind of changes things a little; we are

allowed to watch anything EXCEPT XXX movies, etc. We are not " expected " to

watch them! ha! :-) Thought I should clarify that.

Cain

Dispatcher, Training Officer

Randolph County Communications

155 E South Street

Winchester, IN 47394

mcain_911@...

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/3/01 7:48:36 AM Eastern Standard Time,

gerrydaypray@... writes:

> << There has been some discussion amongst my colleagues as to the benefits

> or drawbacks to having a tv available to us when not busy.>>

>

> A little late, but here is my reply:

> We have a TV at either end of the comm center. Most times its on CNN or

> the Weather Channel. We turn it on when the local news comes on at 5am(I

> am on Mornings). Its great when something happens in your area. Like

> something the news would carry live, you can watch it and really see whats

> going on. We like to see how the media butchers our stories with erroneous

> or false information. Or when a catastrophe happens, we can keep an eye on

> it , like the tornados we had several years ago, I think that even the

> cable company donates the service, but cant confirm that. The only bad

> part is when cable goes out. They we are stuck,

> Oh, during special times, like xmas and Telecommunicators Week, we get to

> bring in movies...

>

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@...

[Guest guest]

in our communications room the dispatchers have a tv, as does the call-takers

and supervisor. although the call takers get more into watching actually

whats on as a dispatcher were usually way to busy to watch anything

seriously. but we enjoy the noise from the set. when sone turns it off for

some reason no matter how busy we are we all up.