911:: Re: Post Concerning Call 911 and Pray

[Guest guest]

It is the September 2001 issue of Good Housekeeping.

I haven't read it yet, so I don't have any feedback on

the article right now. Hope this helps.

Becca Durbin

Police Dispatcher

Jefferson County 9-1-1 Dispatch

Jefferson County, Missouri

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/28/01 11:39:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

wilson_k1@... writes:

> I also found it interesting that the said that many

> > states do not require EMD

> > certification in order to answer 911.

>

The city of Lynchburg and Co. (Where I applied) are not EMD. They do

asnwer all 9-1-1 calls but give out no medical advice. I heard the state of

Va. does not require EMD.

Tammy

[Guest guest]

--- Gypsy0005@... wrote:

>

> I also found it interesting that the said that many

> states do not require EMD

> certification in order to answer 911.

One thing that a lot of people do not understand is

that not everyone who answers 911 deals with medical

emergencies. I get this all the time when I tell

people I work for 911 (I have started saying I work

for Tulsa Police dispatch, even though that isn't

entirely correct, either.) People always ask me about

medical calls. I don't know the first thing about

medicine--emergency or otherwise. At our center, we

have a person that answers all incoming 911 calls and

then transfers them to police, fire or medical call

takers. Our EMS is a private organization. The only

connection they have to us is that they are in the

same room--so to speak--there is a big wall between us

and them. Our fire dispatchers can be EMD

certified--and it helps as fire dept is first

responder on a lot of EMS calls--they go to all injury

accidents and heart attacks, and the like. I don't

even know a lot about that, although the fire

dispatchers are part of our division (I have not

trained up that far yet.) I do not need to be EMD

certified at this time. I only answer law enforcement

calls. If there is also a medical emergency, I

transfer the call to our EMS people (I will stay on

the line if needed.) SO, the statement is correct

that not all states require EMD certification to

answer 911--but that is not necessarily bad, since

many of those people do not handle medical calls.

Now, if they are handling medical calls, I think they

should be EMD certified. It certainly can't hurt and

it most likely would help.

=====

Kim

I make a difference

Tulsa, OK

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

You might find it more interesting to realize that very few states out there

have ANY guidelines for answering 911 lines or being a police/fire/ems

dispatcher....the states that do have guidelines are few and far

between.....

My usual response to people saying that no training / guidelines are needed

for this job - that any monkey who can read could do it - is to say " Ok, how

would you like the police department to hand a gun to every applicant and

send them out the door sans any training? " -

Few answer " Sure " ....it should be no less for 911 call takers /

dispatchers...unfortunately the priority of hiring & training guidelines for

some places is just at the bottom of their task lists....

diane g

UVM PD / Burlington VT

>

> >

> > I also found it interesting that the said that many

> > states do not require EMD

> > certification in order to answer 911.

[Guest guest]

i must not have seen the original post. in what publication was this

article published?

rich

[Guest guest]

We still suffer from turnover and abundant overtime, but gone are the days

when rookies make twice our salary. Their starting pay is in the $28,000

range and ours is in the $24,000 range. A sore point with some of the

officers is that their pay plan has 9 steps and ours has 13; therefore, our

top out pay is higher. However, we do not have as much opportunity for

advancement/variety as they do, not to mention nobody will pay me $20/hr to

sit in their parking lot or stand in their business! :-)

Kim Kinsey

Chattanooga, TN PD/FD

opinions are mine and not my agency's!

home email: kjkinsey@...

work email: kinsey_kim@...

AOL IM or ICQ: CPDKimmieK

Patty wrote:

>We do, however, suffer from the large " turnover " rate and the

>abundant overtime as mentioned in the article. Many of our dispatchers are

>guys and gals looking to be police officers and take the job as dispatcher

>just to get a foot in the door.

>

>Not hard to imagine why they leave when becoming a rookie affords you

double

>the salary of being a dispatcher.

>

>Patty

>BTPD NJ

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/29/01 6:24:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

dispdmg@... writes:

>

> My usual response to people saying that no training / guidelines are needed

> for this job - that any monkey who can read could do it - is to say " Ok, how

> would you like the police department to hand a gun to every applicant and

> send them out the door sans any training? " -

>

>

My take on the statement about the chimp is a bit different. At my initial

interview for my first dispatch job I was asked by the Chief why I thought I

could do this job. My reply was, " You can teach a chimp to push the buttons

and ring all the bells involved, but if you don't hire someone with the

common sense and caring to do the job you will NEVER be able to teach them

those things " . I still feel that way. The mechanics of the job are fairly

simple, but if you are not a multi task person who is not easily frightened

and if you don't have the heart to really want to help people then you will

never, ever become the type of dispatcher we all aspire to be.

I really think that the article in Good Houskeeping did us all a bit of a

disservice when they did not stress that the first responder in any emergency

situation is the caller themselves. How dare folks have young children or

elderly relatives around and not know basic first aid. CPR should be a must

for everyone! Moms, dads, school teachers..........you'd be surprised how

many folks look at you with a glazed expression when you ask them if they

know how to do CPR.

After reading the 911 article my mind wandered back to the early days of this

great country. Can you imagine where our country would be right now if the

original occupants had been as whinny and helpless as the folks we talk to

everyday?? I can just picture the call from the Pilgrim reporting that the

big, bad Indian stole his horse!

My personal campaign for personal responsibility does not allow me to answer

stupid questions. Any emergency or potential emergency questions are

answered immediately and to the best of my ability. But the calls from

people that refuse to think for themselves or to be responsible for

themselves are met with non answers. The call from the lady having her

driveway paved who lives in an area where no parking is allowed on her street

will NOT get any suggestions on where to park her car. I will let her figure

out for herself that if she simply drives around the corner to the next block

she will find ample parking. Partly because if I suggest this to her she

will whine about how far she will have to walk with her groceries and her

children. The tractor trailer driver who called to say he was coming to

court with his truck and had been told he could not park in the lot on court

day asked, " What do you suggest? " I replied that I don't make suggestions.

He would have to assess the situation when he arrived and decide this for

himself.

In our department we answer 911 and all the 7 digit numbers coming into the

department, we dispatch for 5 rescue squads and 5 fire departments and have

anywhere from 7 to 20 officers on the road at any given time. And we do give

pre arrival instructions on all squad calls. We are both call takers and

dispatchers. The people that call to find out if the schools are closed, if

the traffic has cleared up on such and such highway, or where they can park

take away from my ability to help those that are really in need of emergency

services. I am ALWAYS polite, but I refuse to coddle these idiots any

longer. Wake up and smell the coffee, grown-ups!!! You are in charge of your

own lives!

I just hope that I live long enough and dispatch long enough to witness the

citizens of this country revert to the attitude of yesteryear (even before my

time) where people took responsibility for their own actions and actually

would think for themselves. It might be an impossible dream, but I'll

continue to do my little part here in central Jersey.

Patty

BTPD NJ

[Guest guest]

> One thing that a lot of people do not understand is

> that not everyone who answers 911 deals with medical

> emergencies. I get this all the time when I tell

> people I work for 911 (I have started saying I work

> for Tulsa Police dispatch, even though that isn't

> entirely correct, either.)

> Kim

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

A new checker here....had a call a few nights ago from a lady at a battered

women's shelter " testing " her cell phone. After summarily chastising her for

that, I asked her why she did it. She told me that the shelter said it

would be a good idea to try it out. I instructed her to tell the person

that said this that A--knock it the hell off B--(in Iowa anyway) callers

that persisted could be criminal charged for this activity. There is no

reason to believe it wouldn't work.

She did apologize and said she would pass along the info.

Iowa State Patrol Communications Cedar Rapids

Werling, Anamosa, IA N0XZY 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]

In a message dated 8/29/01 8:15:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

kjkinsey@... writes:

> We still suffer from turnover and abundant overtime, but gone are the days

> when rookies make twice our salary. Their starting pay is in the $28,000

>

We have a huge salary difference in this area. The dispatchers at my

husbands department start at 21K and the patrolmen start at 34K. The real

differnece is after 5 years. With the " step program " the officers have they

will be at top patrolman salary of 60K. The dispatchers do not have a step

program so their only increases are the 3 or 4% they get with their contract.

In the town where I work the dispatcher start much higher, but they never

come close to making what the officers make. We do have a step program that

increases us much faster and farther than some departments in the area but I

can assure you that we never get near the 60K that the officers make.

Its sad that the politicians and the public feel that we are nothing more

than glorified secretaries and do not deserve a salary that actually reflects

our abilities, our sacrifice and our contribution to society.

Patty

BTPD NJ

[Guest guest]

We try to instruct people and businesses, that it is all right to test their

9-1-1 lines ... just to notify us before hand. If we KNOW they are calling

us...there is not QUITE the same nervous rush that occurs when that phone rings.

Of course, we are much smaller than say Nashville....and if we are called to say

that someone is testing 9-1-1 and then the 9-1-1 line rings,it is a good bet

that it is the person we just spoke with.

Freida

LaVergne

Jim wrote:

> We have callers that do this occasionally either after having repairs made to

their phone system to make sure it works or from people who have recently moved

into their new homes wanting to make sure that the correct name and address are

popping up on the ANI/ALI.

[Guest guest]

> After reading the 911 article my mind wandered back

> to the early days of this

> great country. Can you imagine where our country

> would be right now if the

> original occupants had been as whinny and helpless

> as the folks we talk to

> everyday?? I can just picture the call from the

> Pilgrim reporting that the

> big, bad Indian stole his horse!

I think that people have been so spoiled that they can

no longer think for themselves. All over, you have

people telling you how to vote, what TV shows to

watch, what toilet paper to buy. Do you ever wonder

why advertising works, when you watch it and think

" that is so stupid, who would be influenced by that? "

It is because people have been trained to turn their

brains off. I long for a commercial that simply tells

me what the product does, how it does it, what makes

it better--instead of implying that I will be thin and

beautiful, get all the guys, etc if I use the product.

Unfortunately, this is what most people respond to.

My original point was that through all the freedoms

and rights we have, and the morphing of our government

into a coddling parent, people have come to believe

that " it is someone else's fault " and " it is someone

else's responsibility "

>

The tractor trailer driver who called to

> say he was coming to

> court with his truck and had been told he could not

> park in the lot on court

> day asked, " What do you suggest? "

The one I hate the most is " should I make a report? "

I always tell them I am not allowed to advise (which

is true) but they are certainly free to do so and I

will be glad to send out an officer if they choose to

take that route.

=====

Kim

I make a difference

Tulsa, OK

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

OK...I am sooo tired of politicians. Our department is involved for most of

this year with a tug of war with our mayor and board of aldermen. There was a

move earlier in the year to remove our Chief, that failed. As a thinly veiled

retaliation, the PD budget was severely cut, the marine patrol was docked, take

home vehicles have been removed from officers, we now must have city

administrator approval for second/parttime jobs, travel requests are being gone

over with a fine tooth comb, and now, I hear that at the " workshop " tomorrow

the mounted patrol will be hit. One of the aldermen stated that the boat should

be docked so that the officers could be out on the street catching

" speeddemons " . This same officer a few weeks later came to an officer on a

traffic stop and questioned the officer about " why " they were using radar, why

they were pulling people over and why they sat there for " 5 minutes " . We had a

call about 2 weeks after our boat was docked...people out in the lake that we

border and their boat was sinking. NO agency had a boat in the

water...fortunately, the people managed to hobble to the dock. There have been

words such as implied liability tossed about, since the boat has been out on

the lake for at least 2 or 3 years. Our grant writer also just had to write to

a grant giver and say that we can't take the grant..because it was earmarked

for the boat! We were working with the Wildlife Management people to establish

a unique partnership with the boat, that would have made us eligible for

Federal grants...but that will not happen now. Our board even wanted to give

the boat to the Rescue Squad (which didnt want it, and noone knows if it can be

given away anyways, as it was specifically gifted to the department). The board

made the statement that this would " make this board look good " . Since some

citizens had some not pleasant words to say about issues at a city board

meeting around the first of the year, the board voted to make citizen comments

come AFTER the board has closed its business session. I am a politically active

person...and this is about to drive me crazy! I am at a point where I am

considering risking my job to become a REAL activist.

Thanks for letting me vent......it sometimes is the only way I stay partially

sane!

Freida

Ridgeroader wrote:

> >.... politicians...

[Guest guest]

> Bravo Patty

> Now as to the " chimp " statement...Tell that person

> that you would gladly

> switch places with him/her for a day and see who has

> the tougher job. They

> ALWAYS balk at that. I had a captain tell me that

> most anyone can be a

> dispatcher, I came back with my question and he just

> hemmed and hawed and

> walked out the door. His only retort was " don't

> belittle the job WE do. "

> In other words, dispatchers ain't part of the REAL

> show. Oh really?

>

This is a problem I run into frequently and it bugs

me. Police officers and dispatchers are a team.

Without us, they would have a hard time doing their

job and without them, we don't have a job. Just

because I am not out there chasing a bad guy does not

mean I am not part of it. I am the one making sure

that the other units know where he is, what the bad

guy looks like and calling in whatever help is needed.

Without me, he is chasing the bad guy all alone,

hoping the other units can understand him and if he

gets hurt, there is no one to call for EMS, etc. If

it weren't so dangerous, I would love for them to go

one day without us and then see what they have to say

about us being part of the show.

=====

Kim

I make a difference

Tulsa, OK

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> My take on the statement about the chimp is a bit different. At my

initial

> interview for my first dispatch job I was asked by the Chief why I thought

I

> could do this job. I am ALWAYS polite, but I refuse to coddle these

idiots any

> longer. Wake up and smell the coffee, grown-ups!!! You are in charge of

your

> own lives!

> Patty

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

Bravo Patty

Now as to the " chimp " statement...Tell that person that you would gladly

switch places with him/her for a day and see who has the tougher job. They

ALWAYS balk at that. I had a captain tell me that most anyone can be a

dispatcher, I came back with my question and he just hemmed and hawed and

walked out the door. His only retort was " don't belittle the job WE do. "

In other words, dispatchers ain't part of the REAL show. Oh really?

Iowa State Patrol Communications Cedar Rapids

Werling, Anamosa, IA N0XZY 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]

> Its sad that the politicians and the public feel that we are nothing more

> than glorified secretaries and do not deserve a salary that actually

reflects

> our abilities, our sacrifice and our contribution to society.

> Patty

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

Same on the state level. But the steps and percent pay increases make the

gap bigger and bigger every year. Then the state grouses about the money

sworn personnel make. Well duh.

I have wondered about a " blue flu " by dispatchers; if that is what it would

take to wake up some of these people. Of course as with the air traffic

controllers in 1981 under Regan, we probably just get fired and replaced

with a bunch of chimps.

Iowa State Patrol Communications Cedar Rapids

Werling, Anamosa, IA N0XZY 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]

--- kabal739@... wrote:

> to....Patty in NJ.....

>

> Couldn't of said it better myself!!!!!

>

> people continue to call 9-1-1 and expect dispatch to

> " just gettum here "

> without wanting to answer any questions...and act

> like " your " the idiot for

> asking the said questions....

>

What gets me is when I ask a question and they say

" Well, I don't know, I'm inside, I can't see him! " in

a tone that implies I should know that. When was the

last time you could see through the phone? I always

want to say " I'm sorry, my crystal ball is on the

fritz today. " Guess that would get me in trouble,

though.

=====

Kim

I make a difference

Tulsa, OK

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

--- & Annette Hallmark

wrote:

Also, many of our

> dispatchers will verify ANI/ALI information on

> people who accidentally press the wrong button or

> accidentally dial 9-9-1-1. (The extra 9 is for an

> outside line)

>

>

>

This irks me. Why do they have to use 9 for an

outside line? And how many times do they have to hear

" someone dialed 911 from one of your PBX lines " before

they change it. I know they know, because they always

tell me " It was probably someone trying to get an

outside line. " It is the worst in hotels, especially

ones that cater to people from out of the country.

They dial 9 for outside line, then try to get an

international operator, and end up dialling 911. It

also irks me when I call back and they say " Well, I

don't know what room it was from, but they were

probably just trying to get an outside line. " How do

you know?! Maybe they really have an emergency. They

get mad when I say it needs to be verified, either by

their security, or by an officer coming out. This

makes ME mad! Never mind that someone might be having

a heart attack, or is being attacked. AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!

=====

Kim

I make a difference

Tulsa, OK

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, the people who may get hurt by the " blue flu " could be your

officers.

I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to risk that.....

annette hallmark

tamu pd

On Wed, 29 Aug 2001 19:04:23 -0600, " Ridgeroader " wrote :

> > Its sad that the politicians and the public feel that we are nothing more

> > than glorified secretaries and do not deserve a salary that actually

> reflects

> > our abilities, our sacrifice and our contribution to society.

> > Patty

[Guest guest]

> This irks me. Why do they have to use 9 for an

> outside line? And how many times do they have to hear

> " someone dialed 911 from one of your PBX lines " before

> they change it. I know they know, because they always

> Kim

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

In southeastern Iowa Da Fone Company, in its infinite wisdom, has started to

use area code 919 for some cell phones. I've heard that the false 911 cell

calls have increased exponentially.

Sheesh

Iowa State Patrol Communications Cedar Rapids

Werling, Anamosa, IA N0XZY 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]

>You are so right, and I agree that the

government holds a large responsibility for it.<

Don't forget....

We're part of the government.

Need a phone number.... dial 9-1-1

Need to know if school's closed... dial 9-1-1

Need a weather report... dial 9-1-1

Need to know why traffic's jammed... dial 9-1-1

And by allowing this practice to continue for years, we've contributed

to the problems of " not helping yourself " and " lack of personal

responsibility " .

Weintraut

[Guest guest]

> Need a phone number.... dial 9-1-1

> Need to know if school's closed... dial 9-1-1

> Need a weather report... dial 9-1-1

> Need to know why traffic's jammed... dial 9-1-1

>

> And by allowing this practice to continue for years, we've

contributed

> to the problems of " not helping yourself " and " lack of personal

> responsibility " .

I have a (personal) problem _answering_ questions on 9-1-1. When

someone calls me on that line and start off with a question, they are

referred to the seven digit line. I can recognize that to the public

what constitutes an " emergency " is variable and take it into account

for " less than emergency " reports that folks like to call 9-1-1 with,

but folks who start the call with a question generally end up with a

short conversation and without the information they were looking for

(and obviously there are exceptions, usually in the form: " How do you

stop the bleeding? " or " Do you know about the...? " ).

It might be quicker for me (the first time) to just answer their

question (like about school or a phone number), but it fosters bad

habits on the part of the public. I've enough bad habits of my own,

there is no reason to be complicent in assisting other peoples' bad

habits.

Roy Mumaw

CAPD Arroyo Grande