RE: 911:: Calling all dispatchers...

[Guest guest]

Traci,

not sure where you are but there is a lady on this group for the City of

Chicago, They were one of the first ones to use 3-1-1 but I believe not

sure that the calls did not back off on 9-1-1 or 3-1-1 and they built a

whole new call answering center just to handle the calls maybe she will

pick up on this message to help you out

Tom

Central Illinois

[Guest guest]

WOW WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I am tired just from the thought

of how many times in an 8 hour period, I would have to answer the phone.

I would need more than 3 weeks vacation a year. Just to recharge batteries

and that isn't the phone batteries either.

Tom

[Guest guest]

Jim, Thanks much... I'll be in touch ... will take me some time to

put together all the info I'm getting...

Traci

> Traci: New York City started 311 in March of 2003 and it did not

result in lower call volume. I can send you the monthly stats for

the period in question if you want them (they might not be very

helpful due to our size and call volume ( 1300 calltakers and over 12

million calls last year). I was part of the team that integrated 311

with 911 in NYC and if you have any specific questions, let me know

(off list)

>

> Jim

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/21/2004 9:05:33 PM Central Standard Time,

tcpandi@... writes:

Got a little dilemna here... Most everyone has heard of pending or

existing 311 lines (takes care of county/city/public agencies like

utilities, street lites, traffic lites, etc). My area is coming

very close to starting 311.... however, the county commission has

decided that once 311 is activated, the non-emergency calls to the

911 center are going to be drastically less - thus - they have

decided we need LESS staffing than we have. (Lord someone save us!)

Hello...!!!

In Chicago we didn't have a decrease in calls to 9-1-1 that I'm aware of

because on a lot of the 3-1-1 calls we still have to send the police. In our

case

when someone calls 3-1-1 and it requires the police to be sent out the 3-1-1

operator transfers the call to 9-1-1. This is done, as far as I know, because

of Union Issues. 3-1-1 operators are in a different union and are paid at a

lower rate. If they entered the job into the computer for 9-1-1

dispatch...they would have to be paid at their rate (and in their union). Kind

of defeats

the purpose...and to me isn't really using common sense...but then again this

is the city of Chicago we are talking about...so common sense isn't used

anywhere around here!

As far as statistics go...I will ask around and see if I can get some for

you. JA if you are reading this...can you provide those numbers for them?

Chicago 9-1-1

[Guest guest]

We are in the process of implementing 311 in our area. It is being

started by a not-for-profit charity. It will *not* have any trained

operators, it's whoever answering the phone. That person will determine

whether it's an emergency or needs police assistance. I think it sounds

horrible. I can hardly friggin wait.

mkatt

A. Katt

Bay County Central Dispatch 9-1-1

1228 Washington Ave.

Bay City MI 48708

kattm@... (work)

michelle_katt@... (home)

www.co.bay.mi.us