Re: 911:: Dress Code? Activities at work?

[Guest guest]

Here in Portsmouth, we do have SOP's regarding these situations, but all

three platoons each have their own supervisor, so these activities are under

their discretion.

Our uniforms right now look almost like the officers. We have 3

short-sleeved shirts, 3 long-sleeved shirts, 3 pants, 1 belt, 1 PPD pin (worn

on the collar), 1 911 pin (also worn on the collar) & a name pin (worn above

our left shirt pocket). The instructors & senior dispatchers also have

separate pins to wear above their right shirt pocket. We have patches sewn

on all of our shirts on our shoulders that say Portsmouth Police, plus a

Communications " rocker " patch that is sewn above the police patch. The

officers have since gotten new different patches that are brown & yellow

(ours are the old ones that are multicolored). Socks are either black or

dark blue. Shoes consist of the black patent shoes or ALL BLACK tennis

shoes. The shoes are purchased out-of-pocket. We do not have a clothing

allowance, so if we want additional uniform pieces, we must purchase them

out-of-pocket. Hair must be worn up if it falls below the collar. Only stud

earrings are allowed, along w/a necklace that must be worn underneath the

shirt, a watch & 1-3 rings. Males are not allowed to wear earrings while in

uniform. Right now our department is in the process of ordering new uniforms

that will look nothing like the officers & will look more casual (will be

more like khaki pants & golf/polo type shirts). If we want a jacket, we can

request one from Property & Evidence (if there is one that fits us). If not,

then we have to go buy our own. Normally, uniforms are required

Monday-Friday on all shifts & " business attire " on Saturdays, Sundays &

holidays on all shifts. But since we have a uniform shortage right now,

we're allowed to wear " business attire " any day we like.

We do have a TV in the radio room along w/a VCR. Normally it stays on the

Weather Channel or local news channels. Of course, supervisor's discretion

allows us to watch other shows during " down times. " We don't have a radio

because we're located in the basement & we can't pick up any channels.

Cellular phones are to be turned off (can't get a signal in the basement

anyway) & pagers are to be turned on " vibrate " or " silent. " All of our phone

lines in the radio room are taped & we're allowed to have incoming & outgoing

personal calls as long as it doesn't interfere w/our duties. We don't have

internet access in the radio room -- that is next door in the classroom & it

is frequently monitored to make sure we're visiting acceptable sites. We're

allowed two 10 minute breaks during our 8-hour shift, plus a 30 minute lunch

break (off the clock). We have a lounge w/several plush chairs & couches & a

TV, plus a kitchen w/2 microwaves, fridge, stove, sink & several cupboards.

Normally we're allowed to read work related materials & the newspaper, but

that also falls under supervisor's discretion. Sometimes we're also allowed

to pay bills, read other items, cross-stitch, crochet & anything that will

keep you awake on midnight shift! We've also been known to play

w/paddleballs & jacks!

I hope this has been of some help to you.

" In God we trust....all others check thru NCIC! "

L. Dunham

a911opr8r@...

Portsmouth P.D.

Portsmouth, VA

[Guest guest]

Here I sit in blu/white Nike airwalks, slightly faded blu jeans and a grey

" The Console " sweatshirt...pretty much the norm for here. Weekday dayshift

is usually a casual (not t) shirt and jeans altho we are not open to the

public. Remembering we are a civilian organization.

I do very nice crochet work which is also acceptable here, as is reading,

small craft stuff, etc. No tv allowed in the center. Alot of us eat at

the console and drinks are allowed in " spill proof " containers.

Our email is on the internet, so we have access and are only supposed to

look at " work related " things. I figure watching " africam " must be work

related cuz the cameras are kept up by park rangers.

Bob in Tacoma

Dispatcher

Law Enforcement Support Agency..(currently in need of a director, and asst

director of communications)

[Guest guest]

We used to wear uniforms Mon-Thur., uniform pants with polo shirts, and jeans

on Fri, Sat and Sun. The the City CEO sent a memo out the beginning of

summer letting everyone in the offices go casual business attire for the

summer, such as dockers, skirts, dresses, etc, but NO JEANS, even on

Friday!!!! Some still wear their uniforms. After Labor Day the CEO extended

it til the end of the year, so now we are waiting to see what will happen.

We are issued 5 pair of uniform pants, 4 polo shirts and 1 Class A, long

sleeved shirt, collar brass and belt. We buy our own shoes.

We have a TV in our Comm Center but it has to stay on a news channel or

the weather channel. We can read, knit, crochet, do crafts, pay bills,

whatever, as long as it does not interfere with our dispatching.

We hold squad dinners. Last New Years Eve we had to work 12 hour shifts for

Y2K so we decided if so many of us had to be there we would have fun. We

dressed up, decorated the Comm Center for a party, covered the tables the

white linen table clothes, had linen napkins, candles, food, music and our

managers brought in cases of sparkling cider for us to toast with at

midnight. The Chief and his staff joined us shortly after midnight. We get

our job done, and we have fun. If you don't you go crazy!!!!!!!!!