Re: 911:: Televisions in Communications Centers

[Guest guest]

We have a TV in our comm center. It used to be only for news/weather. However

with the change in our administration a while back, we were allowed to have

complete reign of it. Now that we have it, the novelty has worn off and

sometimes its never even on. So far there has not been any disputes as far as

who wants to watch what. Some like TLC, others like the networks, some like

Oxygen channel, etc. Our policy is that so long there is nothing of an

offensive nature or the volume is not heard over the PD radio they can watch

just about whatever they want.

Clyde Walters

Communications Supervisor

Pinellas Park PD

[Guest guest]

When we had televisions, we could watch whatever we

wanted. The TVs were there for entertainment during

slow periods. However, they got taken away. I'm not

sure of all the details, because this happened while

I've been activated, but the story I got was there was

an argument over what to watch and someone went

running to the big boss about it and the big boss

said, well, fine, you don't get TVs if you're going to

fight over them (this is a case of one or two people

messing it up for everyone--fighting over the TVs was

not a common occurrence. However, tattling is a

common occurrence for some people, and one of those

just happened to be involved in the argument. Some

people are completely unable to resolve problems like

an adult, but, that's a different subject.)

Anyway, we were allowed to watch whatever (we even had

HBO) when we had the TVs.

=====

Kim

I make a difference

Tulsa, OK

[Guest guest]

We have a similar problem. We are allowed a tv and pretty much anyone can watch

what ever they wish on it. There is only one jailer and one dispatcher on duty

at a time. They mostly leave it on either Lifetime or Wrestling or a ball game

unless there is news going on and I'm around. Most of the other dispatchers do

not like the news or care about what happens in the world around them. The

problem I have is with our internet. Apparently one or more persons have been

visititing sites they should not. They are legal in our area as far as I know

but SHOULD not be viewed at a Sheriff's office reguardless of how old they are.

I have tried using the filter on Internet Explorer but they seem to be to

constrictive to any site that does not have a rating and most sites I have found

do NOT have ratings. Does anyone have any experience in blocking certain sites

or types of sites without blocking yahoo or cnn and stuff like that? and the

other problem is that some go to yahoo to play gam!

es and at least one is apparently going there to chat and some of the names of

the individuals they have looked up make me worry. Any suggestions other than

getting rid of the internet would be greatly appreciated. I understand that it

gets very boring on a midnight shift we have maybe 3 things to say on the radio

all night and possibly 1 911 call. Nothing else other than the tv which is

mostly info mercials at that time.

Thanks for any help.

[Guest guest]

I'd like that info as well.

---- Original message ----

>Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 15:10:31 -0000

> "

>Subject: 911:: Televisions in Communications Centers

>To: 911console

>

>I am interested in " Television policy and privileges " at

your

>agencies. I would also like good stories and horror stories

that I

>can present to Administration.

==================================================

mailto:kevbayer911@...

http://members.sigecom.net/kevbayer911/unofficial/

http://members.sigecom.net/kevbayer911/family/

====================================================

[Guest guest]

I have to say that I think a Comm Center should have a TV . If there are

people abusing the Tv then it should only be programmed to recieve news or

weather stations only. Our Comm Center doesn't have a TV and on 9-11 all the

reports on the radio I pretty much didn't believe how serious it was until we

went into a Threat-Con Delta. If we had a TV in our center that day it would

have helped us when we started getting calls asking if the base was shut

down.

Tim Weatherwax

Dept. of Defense Police Dispatch

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Kittery , Maine

[Guest guest]

We have a TV in our dispatch center. The policy says that it must be kept

on news or public service type programming with the volume kept low. This

is not strictly enforced. The TV audio is not to be heard on the phones or

radios. The TV is said to be a privilege, not a right, and if anyone

working objects to it then it can be turned off. It has not been a big

problem up to now, but the potential is there. I work strictly days and

during that shift it is usually on CNN/Fox News/MSNBC. Sometimes people get

tired of the same news over and over and put it on the country music channel

with the volume low. I'm sure on the quieter overnight shifts it is on

other channels (we have the basic family cable service), but most people

don't let it interfere with their work.

I bet I know what channel it will be on tomorrow evening! :-)

Wes Linscott

Maine State Police

[Guest guest]

Almost every center I've been in has had access to

television... Some have them on all the time... some

limited access.

I have always believed that access to television and internet

in the Communications Center has more potential for abuse,

and causes more problems, than you can show benefit.

I know..... I'm an old grouch....

But we're always shouting that we want to be seen

as professionals...

Then I walk into a comm center, see the dispatcher with feet up

on the console, leaning way back in the chair, television blaring,

and because of the TV... probably 2 or 3 more people in

the room than need be....

I just don't like it.

Weintraut

---

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[Guest guest]

That's bad supervision if the dispatchers are like that. I would have to

say the internet and TV are vital tools if the supervisors adhere to the

procedure

Jeff Noonan

14-42

[Guest guest]

--- wrote:

> But we're always shouting that we want to be seen

> as professionals...

>

> Then I walk into a comm center, see the dispatcher

> with feet up

> on the console, leaning way back in the chair,

> television blaring,

> and because of the TV... probably 2 or 3 more people

> in

> the room than need be....

I agree that feet up, leaned back in the chair, TV

blaring is unprofessional. But, given the nature of

our job, what is wrong with reading a novel of

watching television during slow periods? Obviously,

any other work that needs to be done should be done

first, but if all the paperwork is done and there is

nothing going on, is it better to have people

twiddling their thumbs, staring at the walls? It

seems to me this is just asking for people to fall

asleep. The unprofessional part comes in when people

abuse the priveleges.

=====

Kim

I make a difference

Tulsa, OK

[Guest guest]

Well said Kim

Jeff Noonan

14-42

[Guest guest]

At 08:53 PM 1/25/03 -0500, you wrote:

>I have always believed that access to television and internet

>in the Communications Center has more potential for abuse,

>and causes more problems, than you can show benefit.

Why? No offense, just wondering if you'd care to elaborate.

>But we're always shouting that we want to be seen

>as professionals...

First, no, not everyone does shout about that, so please, don't lump

everyone together.

What does a TV in the room have to do with being a professional?? I thought

we were adults too. We've had one for years. I not sure that we've ever

been able to watch a whole show. Takes about 3-5 of us to piece a show

together. We usually make out better with something on that someone has

seen already so they can fill in the blanks. The PBA got us a VCR, that was

nice and now some of the guys are working on a DVD player for us. They know

that we always have to start and stop everything. We have internet access

too and no complaints. We've had great success using it for work, in

particular, having jpgs of baddies sent to our E-mail by other depts when

we've need a quick photo. It's been helpful for finding precincts in NYC

and I even contacted a pigeon handler that I found on the 'net when we'd

located a banded pigeon. These are just a few examples.

In a class that I attended recently I was disappointed at how many people

had gripes about this one or that one that they worked with. Things aren't

all roses where I work, but I'd like to think that we have a mutual respect

for each other and one thing I do know, we stick together. An arguement

over a TV, if one ever occurred wouldn't make it past the comm room door,

we'd take care of it ourselves. We can have 7 people in the room and still

not have any problems, primarily because we are all adults and I think,

needless to say, professionals.

As far as policy, we are asked not to watch anything that isn't acceptable

to everyone else in the room when it comes to adult situations.

You said you're a grouch, I don't think you're a grouch, but in many of

your posts you sound very bitter. I'm sorry that your working conditions

were less than favorable and that for whatever reason you were stuck in

that job, but trust me, it isn't that way every where. Our dept isn't

always terribly supportive of us, they didn't even know there was a Nat'l

Dispatcher Week, but the personnel on the road are a class act and the

people inside are quality, I'm sorry the same wasn't true for you. And I

don't have an expectations of awards, recognition, none of that. I've

gotten it, but it isn't that important. I'm not a volunteer, I get a

paycheck, I have a ton of respects for the poor slobs that we drag outta

bed to go fight a fire or run the rig.

>Then I walk into a comm center, see the dispatcher with feet up

>on the console, leaning way back in the chair, television blaring,

>and because of the TV... probably 2 or 3 more people in

>the room than need be....

Was anyone in danger? Was the radio being answered? I don't get your point,

is it that you just don't care for their posture? Should everyone sit at

attention? Are they being seen by the public? This sounds more like the

Watch Commander's office <G>

Annmarie aka Mickey

wench@... ~ mickeym@...

http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage

[Guest guest]

Well I would say yes that's the job of the supervisor - if it is slow

enough for the dispatchers to play then its slow enough for a supervisor

to supervise. As for your comment about the TV news that's far off. When

9-11 happened no one would have known in a timely fashion till the calls

started coming here. When and If the war starts in Iraq which will

involve every 911 center we will not know unless on the news. So news is

very important as is the weather channel. As far as the internet I have

used it to look up numbers contact AOL security and other agencies. I

think that Poor supervision has allot to do with it. How you present

yourself to the employees, how you interact, how well you know them and

they no you, Supervisors are not baby sitters your right. I know first

hand as I am a acting supervisor. BUT IT IS OUR JOB to know what's

going on in the room at all times and be aware of what everything is

doing

Jeff Noonan

14-42

[Guest guest]

At 09:16 PM 1/25/03 -0600, you wrote:

>If your not shouting to be seen as a professional, you should be.

I'm already treated as a professional, why do I need to shout?

>Bitter? is hardly bitter. Knowledgeable comes to mind. Nuff

>said.

Knowledge of what though? Not being treated fairly? As I said, I feel sorry

for him if that's the case. We all have our reasons why we stay with

situations.

>Posture, loud TV, have alot to do with the way people work and therefore the

>working environment. For example: Studies have shown that when people wear

>uniforms their demeanor changes, for the better, as opposed to when they

>were allowed to wear jeans and other plain clothes. This effects the way

>you act on the job. Putting your feet up on the console IS unprofessional

>and when people see you like that I guarantee that's the impression they'll

>get.

We've gone with and without uniforms, the only thing that changed was that

people were uncomfortable. They have now moved to a less restrictive shirt

and it's better, but there weren't any changes in demeanor, well actually

there were, people were crankier in the uniforms than they are now. As far

as the feet, again, is this an open comm room? Who is seeing this?

Annmarie aka Mickey

wench@... ~ mickeym@...

http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage

[Guest guest]

Jim,

I have to agree with that. I think there is nothing worse then

the unprofessional attitude in the center, while we may not be seen by

the outside it still effects how we perceive ourselves. We are

professionals and should act it. I remember interviewing for a

dispatcher job in a neighboring county just before I started here. I

walked into the center in a suit only to find 3 dispatchers, 1 in jeans

and a tee shirt about fishing and beer, with his feet kicked up reading

the paper, the other had on ripped jeans - It was quite the eye opener

to say the least. I feel there has to be some sort of uniform to give us

a sense of pride. Also you can guarantee someone, a fire chief, a police

officer or someone will walk in when we are " being least professional "

Jeff Noonan

14-42

[Guest guest]

At 11:38 PM 1/25/03 -0600, you wrote:

>Just because it works for one doesn't mean it works for another.

This was exactly the point that I was trying to make. 's post came

across (to me) that he was making a blanket statement, I was merely

pointing out that this isn't always the case. And it isn't always the case

that we aren't being treated liked professionals. I disagree with him and

feel that he was being harsh in regard to the professionals statement. I

thought we were allowed to disagree on here, possibly I'm wrong, because

for some reason you seemed to feel that he's been attacked and you need to

jump to his defense. I was disagreeing and asking politely if he felt like

elaborating, I don't know why this warranted you tell me that I should be

shouting about being a professional.

Annmarie aka Mickey

wench@... ~ mickeym@...

http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage

[Guest guest]

This is a open forum to discuss what ever you want and not be judged.

Some topics get a little heated but speaking for myself I love it, it

spurs a night along. Never be afraid to say your mind, just don't take

it personal, remember email shows no emotion so what you feel or think

someone's saying, may not be the tone they meant, I learned that the

hard way

Jeff Noonan

14-42

[Guest guest]

More have probably agreed with the below statements about feet up, but is it

really so bad having feet up on the desk/console if nothing is going on...

having one's feet elevated is good for the circulation - will help prevent blood

clots from sitting all day long. Leaning back is only natural when your feet

are up. and if there's a tv on to help you de-stress so what.

Now, I don't put my feet up, for me it's too uncomfortable but others I work

with do and it doesnt bother me and we're all very quick on that mute button!

Right now, I'm in 4 hours early to cover part of graveyards and I brought with

me a video tape of tv shows that I recorded while sleeping.... I'm fast on that

pause button too!

Kathy

> >

> > Then I walk into a comm center, see the dispatcher

> > with feet up

> > on the console, leaning way back in the chair,

> > television blaring,

>

> I agree that feet up, leaned back in the chair, TV

> blaring is unprofessional.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/25/2003 9:34:11 PM Eastern Standard Time,

jyoung@... writes:

> For What?

>

> I mean it can't be for News since the News media is getting it's information

from your com center you should know more than they do.

>

I'm sorry, I just have to laugh out loud at this. You've never worked a really

big incident, have you??? During the Columbine incident, the media was out there

making their stories from what they were observing, NOT from what dispatch was

telling them cause dispatch was way too busy with the incident. That's the

case that got my comm center a TV. We didn't have one prior to Columbine.

We have internet too.. full access.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

Young wrote:

>

>I mean it can't be for News since the News media is getting it's information

from your com center you should know more than they do.

>

The only information any news agency gets from my center is what they

hear on their scanners. Oh, they call, but it is a strictly enforced

policy that NOTHING is confirmed or denied. We will take a name and

number and pass it on to the PR person for the city. Funny thing is,

they all have her cell phone number already, but insist on calling us,

just to see if we willl slip. We also get information from news related

to incidents occuring in the cities next to us...beause, we are not able

to hear them on our radios, since the nearest agencies are on 800 and

we are not. We sometimes get a heads up on things headed our way from

breaking news sooner than from the agency handling the emergency.

>

>

>The only thing the Internet can offer is weather updates which you can get in a

more applicable format from the NOAA system.

>

Hmmm...well, that is I suppose possible. We have a VERY ancient weather

alert radio in dispatch. It is almost impossible to understand anything

that is being said on it. I much prefer to turn the TV to local

stations, or the Weather Channel or to pull up a local news station's

website for understandable and concise updates on incoming weather systems.

> <<snip>>>You mention lack of supervision when someone is spending all thier

time on e-bay instead of what they are paid to do but,<<<snip>>>

>

I have dispatchers that do surf on ebay and other sites. I don't mind,

because, as soon as the phone rings or the radio squeaks, the internet

window is minimized and they are in total work mode. Most centers do

allow reading, talking, even working on crafts, puzzles, coloring etc

during down times. Those of my dispatchers who attend college use their

down time to work on homework. What is the difference? If I am

crocheting an afghan, I actually will take longer to be " available " than

if I am looking at something on ebay. Now, as the supervisor, if I note

that the priviledge is being abused in any way, I will immediately

address the issue. To date, the only thing that irks me is when

settings are changed or things such as music files and screen savers

are downloaded. This could pose a problem, as there is always a chance

that a virus could escape detection even by our awesome firewall, and as

too many downloads eat up space needed for the running of work programs.

If there were ever a time when a person ignored the work aspect in favor

of the play aspect, that person would receive discipline..and if the

issue continued woul find themselves seeking another job.

We are a small agency, we dispatch for both PD and FD. We tend to have

lots of downtime....I think having something to keep your mind active is

much better than sitting at a console and having to fight to not go to

sleep due to boredom.

Just my $.02 worth

Freida

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/25/2003 at 9:34:11 PM EST,

jyoung@... wrote:

>

> For What?

> I mean it can't be for News since the News media is getting

> it's information from your com center you should know more

> than they do.

Never seen it happen. On just about any kind of incident sparking media

interest, the comm centers in which I've worked have been the last to

know all the details until well after it's over. We were always too busy

taking care of what we had to do. Learning about the details would come

later after we talked with the responding personnel or with command

staff on scene. It was better with the advent of cell phones and Nextels

because incident command would contact us off the air to give us updates

for command staff pages and that sort of thing, but never did that

equate with what the media was pumping out continuously.

And sometimes command staff would be slow to let us in on the news. When

the entire Walt Disney World Resort closed down for Hurricane Floyd in

September 1999, we in the comm center heard about it first on an Orlando

TV station since we were all watching storm coverage on the TV in the

center. When I called the EOC (which was right across the hall) to let

them know that World Company management had announced the closing, our

chiefs already knew that. They just hadn't bothered to tell anyone. The

dispatchers took it upon ourselves to let the onduty assistant chief,

battalion chief, and station lieutenants know because of the traffic

conditions they would encounter if we toned them out. There were

hundreds of thousands of cars and RVs etc leaving Disney World.

When I was dispatching fire-ems in Sarasota County (Fla), I didn't learn

the details of a multiple injury fatality incident until we did the CISD

and all the field responders were there.

Like I said, maybe in some centers you have more information than the

media, but certainly not in any I've ever worked.

-jackie

Jackie McElroy

Washington, D.C.

http://www.mcjackie.com

[Guest guest]

During weekdays we need to be on the major news channels during the day. At

night and weekends, we can watch most anything. It's basically what the 5

of us can agree on. Most don't care except for major events and local

sports teams. (We have 2 TVs on 24 hrs, no VCRs). The plane crash over NW

Denver the other night proved the worth of our TVs as did the Hayman fire

last year. We routinely watch for the traffic updates during the day, we

dispatch fire/ems all over the south metro area in addition to our deputies

and our N-S Interstate is in the middle of a 7 year expansion and our local

TV channels are pretty good with the traffic and major events banners.

(We're County, south of Denver). One specific example was a 5-alarm

fire being broadcast from the NE area, we alerted our battalion chiefs

bordering on the area and sure enough we were requested to send equipment

and provide other coverage. We were ahead of the curve on that one. So, it

appears to be useful for us.

Walt

[Guest guest]

No offense or criticism intended, but sounds like a serious supervision

problem to me. I've never seen that nor would I expect to, our supervisors

would never permit that.

Walt

> >

> > Then I walk into a comm center, see the dispatcher

> > with feet up

> > on the console, leaning way back in the chair,

> > television blaring,

> > and because of the TV... probably 2 or 3 more people

> > in

> > the room than need be....

>

>

[Guest guest]

Then I walk into a comm center, see the dispatcher with feet up

on the console, leaning way back in the chair, television blaring,

and because of the TV... probably 2 or 3 more people in

the room than need be....

~~~~~~~~~~

We have 2 large TVs in our room. They're set on whatever whomever is

in charge decides. Frequently news or the weather channel, sometimes

something else. Never loud at all - 99% of the time I cannot hear

them so they must be on mute. I believe the only time I've heard

them turned up is during important breaking news.

I'll be moving to a swing shift in a week and I think some of the

night shifts have a movie night to while away the really slow periods,

but I can honestly say I've yet to see the TV abused and most of the

time its ignored entirely.

Debbie

Christmoms - the chat group for Christian moms

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christmoms

" Being confident in this, that He who began a good work in you

will be faithful to complete it. " ~~ Phil 1:6

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/27/03 9:26:00 AM Eastern Standard Time,

cperialas@... writes:

<< So, our director purchased video cards for each CAD position so we can

now watch TV on the same monitors that our CAD system is on, what ever

we want to watch. I guess you could say that we are pretty spoiled.

Roscommon Co (MI) Central Dispatch

>>

Hey ,

We have the same at our Center...each position can have what ever they want

on the TV window on their monitor...within reason...News or Weather channel

during the day and if someone comes in the Center " POOF " the TV window gets

minimized. We do not have a written Policy in place, however, and the

subject of TV and Internet was just brought up at our last Supervisor

meeting. Apparently the Deputies come up to get their paperwork and entries

done and they see that we have a TV on our computer screens...WOW that is

Cool they say, but they turn around and complain to the Sheriff and he

complains to our Director that all we do is watch TV and Play on the

Internet. (Can anyone say " LOCKED DOWN " Central Dispatch Center?) There has

never been any radio traffic missed because of the TV's. I, as a Supervisor,

do have to monitor sometimes...but when it is not busy...there are no

warrants to enter...nothing to be cleaned or maintained, I do not care if the

Dispatchers have the TV on. Heck, we are in the same room for 10 and 12

hours at a time, sometimes with no opportunity to get up and leave for a few

minutes...so if a Dispatcher wants to spend his/her slow time, in the Center,

with the TV on or checking his/her E mail I do not mind, and that is what I

told my Director. I even had a Deputy come in the Center and sit down and

turn on the TV to the MTV channel...I said to him... " Jerod, you don't have on

an inappropriate channel do you??? " He was a little surprised when I

informed him of the rules of the TV and got up and left...It just burns me

that they have the nerve to complain about what we do then come on in like

they own the place and use it when it is convenient for them!!! (Do we tell

them that their listening to their car radio is inappropriate, or stopping at

Home for lunch shouldn't be allowed or running their personal errands with

their Patrol car??? I don't think so. Incidentally, our Deputy Director

(computer Geek) is installing a TV monitor with a buzzer on the door so we

can see who is coming and let them in when it is convenient for us to do so.

I can't wait.

I know our Directors/Deputy Directors...have been talking!!!

Case

Supervisor

Grand Traverse County 911

Northern Michigan

[Guest guest]

At 03:10 PM 1/25/03 +0000, you wrote:

>I am interested in " Television policy and privileges " at your

>agencies. I would also like good stories and horror stories that I

>can present to Administration.

> P.

When we first moved into our new center we were not allowed a tv. Than

changed one afternoon

in the middle of summer when one of our Commissioners came into our office

and wanted to know

about the storm that was moving through. We asked, " what storm? Nothing

has come over our

state computer and we don't have a tv " . Needless to say it was a pretty

bad storm and by the end

of the next week we had a tv.

During business hours, no soap operas, talk shows or game shows.

After hours, anything we want within reason. To go a little further. . .

Our CAD system does not have audible alerts when our timers go off and if

you are not looking at the screen, you will not see the calls change colors.

We tired to no avail to get the CAD people to change this but the

cost was way too high.

So, our director purchased video cards for each CAD position so we can

now watch tv on the same monitors that our CAD system is on, what ever

we want to watch. I guess you could say that we are pretty spoiled.

Roscommon Co (MI) Central Dispatch