Re: 911:: Question

[Guest guest]

How is the " offense " defined? Is correctly entering incorrect data grounds for

disciplinary action? Or does it have to be INCORRECTLY entering correct data?

I guess I'm wondering where and how fault is determined, as these systems are

usually quite complex with lots of places for potential errors to creep in. As

can be seen in the Alaska incident.

How can dispatchers protect themselves from disciplinary action resulting from

computer or database " errors? " Always go with the computer? Never go with the

computer? What if the caller and the computer disagree?

Harry

Re: 911:: Question

> Funny you should ask, we just had this problem in our agency not to long

> ago. We have a standard policy as follows:

>

> 1st offense - Member counseling

> 2nd Offense - Tips on Performance

> 3rd Offense - Written Verbal Warning - which includes the words " should

> this occur again further action will be taken including up to termination

> of employment " .

> 4th Offense - Written Warning - which includes the words " should this

> occur again further action will be taken including up to termination of

> employment " .

>

> Lets hope it should never go this far.

>

> L. ,

> Emergency Communications

>

> or shughes@...

> I was curious to know if any agencies have specific disciplinary

> (sp?) procedures related to input of incorrect addresses? In other

> words, 1st offense - written, 2nd offense - day off, etc. etc.

>

[Guest guest]

From the very beginning we were preached VERIFY,VERIFY,VERIFY !!!!.

Never trust the ANI/ALI screen. We are lucky that we have many valuable

tools available, including but not limited to, a wide variety of

dispatcher county knowledge, a hill Donnelly cross reference on cd -

rom, a database of all the tax parcels in the county with name , address

and phone #, Ariel photo's of the county that can be cross referenced to

the addressing data base, plus the cleared call file. All these and more

are tools we have available to find and make sure a address is correct.

With 911 only being 2 yrs old in our county, there are still addressing

errors that exist. So while it may take a extra minute to be sure, at

least help is sent to the right place. We find addressing problems with

the alarm companies all the time. One thing we did was have individual

dispatchers contact all of our alarm permits (about 10,000+) by phone.

We had them confirm if the alarm still worked, the new 911 address, then

had them dial 911 to make sure the Ani/Ali was correct. This took along

time but it has helped a lot. We also told the individuals to contact

their alarm companies with the new information.

Noonan 14-42

Dutchess County 911

jnoonan@...

[Guest guest]

What!?!?! People lie to the authorities??? Say it isn't so!! Isn't everyone

who calls 9-1-1 a piller

of the community? We all know dispatchers who

truly and honestely believe every caller, don't we

? (not , just for the record )

Al

Bay Co 9-1-1

RE: 911:: Question

>

> --- ~*~Big D~*~ wrote:

> > Do you get many callers who are lying to you?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Subject: 911:: Question

For one of my class projects, I am looking at seeing what kind of things

you guys do to keep yourself somewhat relaxed while sitting down at work

for 8-12 hrrs. You guys do get breaks, I would hope, but while you're

sitting down and answering the phones and stuff, how do you keep your

muscles from going crazy?

Please let me know,

Big D

Where we work, we have consoles that raise and lower from sitting to

standing position. You can dispatch standing, and we have a 20' cord on our

headset which allows you to move around and still answer the radio. We play

on the internet during slow times, watch TV, play computer games, after

business items are entered in records. Most of the time, we are busy

answering phones, talking on the radio, and entering calls. The down time

is marginal, so most of the time, you are talking on the radio or taking

phone calls which takes up your time, and makes things go faster.

Our headsets allow us enough room to roam, that you can go to the bathroom

if you are by yourself. Just try and key up a the appropriate time for

least embarrassment. The kitchen is just a few feet out of range, but you

can turn the radio up at night, and make the quick dash. We always have

fruit on the table for something quick.

Larew

North Mecklenburg Communications

Cornelius, NC

NC911@...

[Guest guest]

Big D

> <<< I am looking at seeing what kind of things you guys do to keep yourself

> somewhat relaxed while sitting down at work for 8-12 hrrs. You guys do get

> breaks, I would hope, but while you're sitting down and answering the

> phones and stuff, how do you keep your muscles from going crazy?>>

>

I laugh. I find something to at least smile about and when I can laugh. I

usually find some internet jokes and I print them out and keep them in my day

runner and if nothing is immediately funny (the shift I'm on has people with

great senses of humor) I'll just read through a few jokes and at least smile.

On my shift though we usually find something funny from either our personal

lives, or something at work or even sometimes a funny call. Laughter is a

GREAT stress breaker.

Our management is adamant that we get our two 15 minute breaks and we get

45-60 for dinner and that we take the time. Its not just an FSLA or union

thing -- its a health thing -- they are real big on doing all we can to be

and stay healthy.

Me personally I try to walk even for 10 minutes before my shift, I come home

on my dinner break and play either Maj jong or Spider Solitaire for 10-15

minutes when I get home at the end of my shift.

At work if I'm " stuck " sitting I don't sit -- I stand (we have adjustable

work stations), I pace a bit while listening, I do some deep breathing

between calls and stretch.

[Guest guest]

We do NOT get scheduled 'breaks'. There really is no reason to at this PD.

We work one a time with limited double coverage (about 8 hrs a week

overlap). I've never had a problem with getting an officer to cover a

bathroom break. We have 1 1/2 smokers and they don't abuse going outside to

smoke. We really work together well with our officers and are considered an

integral part of the department " team " . We aren't separated physically from

the officers either - we all share essentially the same space.

While " on duty " we can do pretty much whatever we want (except for lighting

up a bong or something, of course). We all have individual responsibilities

that can keep us busy depending on the season. Our dispatchers all have 3-5

officers assigned to them for paperwork: we process everything for that

officer. Plus we all have pet projects (for example, I'm in charge of Lost

& Found, which entails marking items in and out, and maintaining a web page

and database). For the most part, people read, some knit, we all play

computer games at some point or surf the web. We don't have TV but we do

have a great T1 connection. I listen to talk radio mostly, some listen to

music. We do have a DVD player in the computer in dispatch, but tend not to

use that so much during the school year - mostly on breaks and during the

summer when we are slow.

We're also fairly lucky in that we don't get " tied " to a chair. I get up an

walk around a LOT, and rarely sit for more than 15 minutes at a time.

Diane G - UVM PD - Burlington, VT

911:: Question

> For one of my class projects, I am looking at seeing what kind of things

> you guys do to keep yourself somewhat relaxed while sitting down at work

> for 8-12 hrrs. You guys do get breaks, I would hope, but while you're

> sitting down and answering the phones and stuff, how do you keep your

> muscles from going crazy?

[Guest guest]

> For one of my class projects, I am looking at seeing what kind of things

> you guys do to keep yourself somewhat relaxed while sitting down at work

> for 8-12 hrrs. You guys do get breaks, I would hope, but while you're

> sitting down and answering the phones and stuff, how do you keep your

> muscles from going crazy?

> Please let me know,

> Big D

********************************************************************

Where I work, we are contracted for what amounts to 2 15minute breaks every

4 hours. Then provisions for OT or shifts longer than 8 hours (mine is

10hours). I don't recall what that is.

Since I work by myself for 7 of those 10 hours my breaks are where I make

them. I put the station 10-7 (out of service) for restroom breaks but for

the most part I just turn up the volume.

Iowa State Patrol Communications, Cedar Rapids

Werling NØXZY

scott@...

http://www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html

http://www.jonescountytourism.com

http://www.earthsat.com/wx/dotwx/winter_roads.html

I have a new address for my Olympic photos.

http://www.photoisland.com

Login: ridgeroader password: blah

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/23/2002 8:51:30 AM Mountain Standard Time,

sourkey@... writes:

> You guys do get breaks, I would hope, but while you're

> sitting down and answering the phones and stuff, how do you keep your

> muscles from going crazy?

>

Breaks??? if your class is teaching that, they're teaching fiction!!

At my department, one doesn't sit for the whole shift as printers, some

alarms, some door controls might require you to get out of your chair

(depending which side of the alarm panel you're sitting on).

There's been many a night on long boring graveyard shifts that I've paced the

floor just to keep moving for something to do!!

Kathy

[Guest guest]

Okay two post in one.

About the tow trucks.

The City of Columbus has a fleet of tow trucks. We have 3 to 5 tow trucks

working on any shift. They take every police related tow we get. If for

some reason our tow truck is busy, then we have a list we call off of. If

we call them they have 30min to respond. They can only charge the fee the

city put in the contract.

As for tv's We have one in our break room. For an 8hr shift we get 2 15min

breaks, and a 30min lunch break. If we are held over at the end of our

shift, or come in 4hrs before the start of our shift then we get what is

called a 15min in between shift break. That is taken just after shift

change.

Jim

Columbus Police

Columbus Ohio

[Guest guest]

> We have 1 1/2 smokers and they don't abuse going outside to

> smoke. We really work together well with our officers and are considered

an

> integral part of the department " team " . We aren't separated physically

from

> the officers either - we all share essentially the same space.

> Diane G - UVM PD - Burlington, VT

********************************************************************

1 and 1/2? Which half smokes?

Iowa State Patrol Communications, Cedar Rapids

Werling NØXZY

scott@...

http://www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html

http://www.jonescountytourism.com

http://www.earthsat.com/wx/dotwx/winter_roads.html

I have a new address for my Olympic photos.

http://www.photoisland.com

Login: ridgeroader password: blah

[Guest guest]

One is on and off....right now I think she's trying to get pregnant again,

so I think she's OFF. I guess I could count as a half also, in that I'm one

of those weird people who likes the smell of a freshly lit cigarette,

outside, not in a confined area. I've never actually put one to my lips.

Plus, its a good excuse to get out of the fishtank, as we call it (three of

our walls are entirely windows and we have a mosaic / mural of sorts of

ocean creatures painted at the top, surrounding us with guppies and octupi).

If I can wrest the digital camera away from someone someday, I'll take a

picture of it.

Diane G

UVM PD

> > We have 1 1/2 smokers and they don't abuse going outside to

> > smoke. We really work together well with our officers and are considered

> 1 and 1/2? Which half smokes?

>

[Guest guest]

We do not have scheduled breaks, however, we are free to get up at any time

and walk around (depending on call volume), hit the head (we have our own),

etc. We have a no smoking policy and only one supervisor has the seniority

to be able to take smoke breaks. Our consoles are adjustable and we have

very long cords so we can walk around, dispatch while standing up, etc. We

have two tvs, which have to be news during the day and we have internet

access, but no games or music or chat rooms. We have a break room with

sink, refrigerator, micro, etc. We work 10 hour shifts and most supervisors

force us to take 30 min meal breaks.

Walt

[Guest guest]

e here have it pretty good too. We can get up and take a step outside

for fresh air, walk around our room. look out the bullet proof windows.

We do have TV's in our room. From 07:00 to 19:00 hours or when thier are

guests or management in the house, we watch the weather channel and the

news. Other then that and on weekends we watch what we want to. We do

have locker rooms, showers, a real nice kitchen. Actually on our night

tours we alternate cooking dinners. Usually appetizers at 17:00 (chips

and dip or cheese and crackers) and dinner by 20:00 hrs. (this providing

we are not busy and have the staff for it). We do have it pretty good as

far as that goes. We do not have internet access but we do have email.

So I can not complain

Noonan

Acting Senior Public Safety Dispatcher

Communications Division

Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response

392 Creek Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

(845) 486 - 2495

jnoonan@...

[Guest guest]

breaks ??? what's A BREAK??? NO FORMAL BREAKS HERE WITHER - but IF YOU

MANAGE YOUR TIME YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET TIME TO STRECH -POTTY ETC.

Jeff Noonan

14-42

[Guest guest]

We are short two people right now so breaks are few and far between

because we often work alone. Our center is a self contained unit. We have a

bathroom (with a phone) just off the main floor. We also have a kitchen (full

sized fridge, microwave toaster oven but no stove). We have furniture

(the adjustable type so you can work sitting or standing), a television and a

VCR. We also have PC's that have some games on them and Internet connections

(and we are hiring Ronnie) at each position. If I can hire the two I am short

and I get the new position I put in next years budget I will have two people

on almost all the time (24/5 and 16/2) so then breaks will be possible (we

work a straight eight so you are paid for lunch anyway).

Allan Young

Hooksett NH police fire and rescue

[Guest guest]

We have internet access, basic cable with HBO/Cinemax/Showtime, and other

basic amenities. Since we are at a firehouse, we have a kitchen in back that

we can use. We (thanks to a generous donation worked out by our Ass't Com

Manager) have our own mini refrigerator and microwave, to keep all of our

stuff in. Beats going all the way to the back to heat up your TV Dinner.

All, in all it is a great place to work. Sure we have had " issues " , but in

seeing some of the other responses, I have *no* room for complaint ;-)

Matt

Bargersville Fire Dept.

Indiana

..

[Guest guest]

I should point out that the only reason we have " premium cable " is because

the cable company gives us this service for free.

Costs them nothing, and gives them a point towards their " PR " score.

Matt

Bargersville FD

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/24/2002 5:17:46 PM Central Standard Time,

wilson_k1@... writes:

> no getting as many breaks as others simply

> because they smoke would be a good reason to gripe.

>

I don't agree. why don't the non-smokers take a break just like the

smokers.. i have 0 tolerance for non smokers that complain that smokers get

more breaks.. just get up, go get a breathe of fresh air or something.. im

sure nobody is telling you, you can't take a break.. am i missing something

here??

smoker in iowa

jamie

[Guest guest]

> I don't agree. why don't the non-smokers take a break just like the

> smokers.. i have 0 tolerance for non smokers that complain that smokers

get

> more breaks.. just get up, go get a breathe of fresh air or something..

im

> sure nobody is telling you, you can't take a break.. am i missing

something

> here??

>

> smoker in iowa

> jamie

********************************************************************

Not to pick a nit, . But the smoker break is the only state authorized

break without (semi) adequate relief. I mean, our contract (maybe not

yours) no leaving without adequate relief. That (adequate relief) is

somewhat ambiguous in that what does it mean actually? Never have gotten an

answer since I work by myself on mids and my closest car is about 25 miles

away at their closest.

Our contract has scheduled breaks but we've never gotten them in the 25

years I've been around. No one in has ever said how we are supposed to take

them without adequate relief.

Maybe it's worse in some places; it gets busy and Smoker (not the former

Michigan State QB) announces he/she is taking a puff break. Leaves the

other(s) alone.

It's a political hot potato. Tobacco gives mega bucks to politicians every

year. Who knows where it will end up?

Iowa State Patrol Communications, Cedar Rapids

Werling, NØXZY

scott@...

If I were a smoker, what would I have to do? Put the station 10-7 (out of

service) anywhere from say 3 to 10 times in a 10 hour shift. As far as I

know, there are no rules on how many breaks you take, how long they are and

when you can or can't take them. If there are written rules, I've never

seen them.

[Guest guest]

On Tue, 4 Feb 2003 17:17:26 -0500, " Katt "

said:

> I am a training officer at my department. I have a trainee that passed

> everything with high enough scores to now be working on her own (since

> Dec 31st). From what I am hearing from her co-workers (I am on a

> different shift) is that she has regressed terribly. That's problem #1.

<snip>

Perhaps she is just not capable of performing to standard on her own. As

you know, this is not a job that one can master in just a few months, but

one can usually tell if they need to be terminated within a pretty short

time.

Then again, maybe he just needs to drink more often.

Bill

[Guest guest]

Drug testing? Or, maybe she's on different allergy/antihistamines,

antidepressants, anti-ANYTHING! It needs to be investigated

immediately....she's become a liability.

[Guest guest]

Big D, didn't you intern at a department in the united states?

If you've already done that, what changes did they have to make to their

equipment so that you knew which phone line was ringing, what the call for

service was , etc.?

Yes, there's a law in the USA, it's the Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA), which says in a nut shell that an employer has to make " reasonable "

accommodations. Most local governments don't have the funds to get the

necessary equipment or funds for decent salaries, I don't know how they'd

justify having to retro fit every piece of equipment for one employee when

there's no guarantee that ANY new hire is going to pass training.

Thinking of how my center is, there's no way we could. We're still a single

person dispatch center a lot of the time and don't have the money to replace

some very essential equipment that is right now nothing but pieces of s*** ,

let alone trying to make everything else compatible for someone who has sight

restrictions.

I don't know how things are in Canada, what the laws are there, but down here

employers will look at the situation very carefully before saying no because

there's too many groups out there that will file a law suit and no one wants

that.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

Many years ago I saw a demonstration of blind dispatchers that were trained

and specially equipped by the Blind Federation. It was truely amazing! Had I

not seen this for myself I would have thought it could not be done. I would

have turned you away at the door also. Dispatchers have many computer screens

and they monitor them all at the same time - Just a small part of the seeing

requirements.

Don't know if this is still done for the blind. But you should look into it.

You would need special equipment and a foundation for the blind may be able

to supply the equipment. If you can find such a program, they would probably

help you prove yourself to an agency. With the advances in equipment and

changes that have taken place in almost every aspect of dispatching, it may

not be possible anymore.

Good luck!

Doreen Draper

Cass County 911 Coordinator

In a message dated 2/19/2003 8:17:34 PM Central Standard Time,

sourkey@... writes:

> Hey!

> I have a question.

> I hven't written in awhile, but I was just wondering your take on this

> whole thing.

> I'm an 18-year-old college student, studying to be a public safety

> communicator (dispatch, call taking, etc.)

> the one thing holding me (and potential employers) is the fact that I am

> visually impaired. Do you have qualms about working with a blind person?

> Why is it that employers seem to turn me away at the door? Is there

> legislation against stuff like this???

> get back to me,

> Big D

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/19/2003 11:57:02 PM Eastern Standard Time,

sourkey@... writes:

> As long as you can do the job then I have no qualms. If your being

> >disqualified purely because of your disability then the ADA should be

> >involved

Ok...I'm going to open a can of worms here.....

I have no problem with any QUALIFIED person doing the job. Where the problem

seems to arrive here in these great United States (especially in NJ, the

lawyer capital of the world) is that all these wonderful groups (such as the

ADA) that were meant to help different segments of our population are often

abused by a select few simply because they are available.

Our department would be ill equipped to handle anyone with a severe vision

problem. As with most other municipalities these days, our budget is very

tight. We can't get them to pay us a decent salary and are working on

equipment that is so old that they dont even make parts for it anymore. To

be forced to retrofit our equipment or buy special equipment for someone that

is visually impaired would put an incredible strain on the department and I

don't think that is what the ADA had in mind when it was created. Yet I can

see our department folding under the pressure to hire someone with these

special needs simply to avoid a lawsuit.

While I do believe that EVERYONE has the right to work and be a productive

member of society, I do NOT believe that everyone is entitled to be employed

at any job they fancy unless they can perform the tasks that the job

involves.

Patty

[Guest guest]

First I would like to say good luck with your studies.

I'm not sure if there is legislation, however, I believe this is covered

in the ADA (American Disability Act). I think that employers turn you

away because it will cost them some money to fix their center up to

accommodate you.

Believe it or not I visited a center up near Albany who hired a blind

person. This person was accommodated with a brail typewriter and the

tone generator was also adjusted so that he would be able to use it. He

got teased a lot because they were afraid that he was going to hit the

'all call' tone in the middle of the night and wake up the whole area

:-)

The problem that my center would encounter, by hiring you, is that we

use touch screens to switch between towers and channels along with using

touch buttons to tone out the fire departments. I'm sure that the

equipment could be modified to accommodate you............that would be

a good question for the venders.

Good luck with everything!

Janice Elderkin

Senior Public Safety Dispatcher

Dutchess County

Department of Emergency Response

392 Creek Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601