Aren't you guys supposed to be on the same team? I'd like to hear from cops and dispatchers please. What are the major gripes and gratitudes on both sides? Thank you.
2006-11-30 12:18:01 · 10 answers · asked by BrutalBaby 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
We are lucky! We have some of the best dispatchers in the state of FL. I am a field supervisor, and often they have started calling support teams before I have to ask them. I feel for them as they send my officers to calls and they don't get to hear the end result, just a disposition code.
We do listen up for each other because we are on the same team. Our dispatchers attend line-up and we are able to voice our concerns and them to us. I have had some of my officers write letters of commendation to telecommunicators who have gone above and beyond. Open lines of communication behind the scenes are needed by all agencies.
We are also allowed to use humor sparingly which lightens up things. An officer got out with an individual with the last name of Mayo and he ran a warrants check. Sure enough, he had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant out on him. What did the dispatcher say? "Unit 219, hold the Mayo."
2006-11-30 12:43:35 · answer #1 · answered by Christopher H 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We are on the same team but much like you might argue with your sister etc we do as well. I can tell you from experience that the problem usually lies in professionalism. There are some dispatchers who will argue with you, refuse a request, or act like you are killing them when you ask them to take care of something like run a tag for instance. Hell I've responded, within the last six months, to some in progress calls (residential burglary etc) and the dispatcher didn't keep the caller on the line while we were enroute Worse, some complained that I had them repeat a lookout every fifteen minutes after an officer was shot! It is unbelievable sometimes. Dispatchers, on the other hand, truly have a difficult job. They are told half truths and are often times flooded with work...phones, radios etc. Don't get me wrong we have some excellent dispatchers who truly care and do a wonderful job just as we have some excellent officers who truly care and do a wonderful job. It gets pretty hairy sometimes and rather involved but we muddle through it.
2006-11-30 20:40:03 · answer #2 · answered by Leigh P 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Here's a real scenario:
Sam 24 is out with a subject armed with a knife. Need backup
Sam 24, I need code 3 cover, subject is armed and confrontational
Sam 24 needs help, dispatch
Sam 24, shots fired, start medics
Dispatch: Sam 24 do you have traffic?
Sometimes dispatch priorities aren't properly focused. In this case the dispatcher was answering a non-emergency, administrative call. Luckily, the other deputies heard the traffic and were responding.
Also, I have worked with some of the best dispatchers ever. I always looked forward to working with them. I usually called my beat partner to let him know to cover me for every call when the others were working.
Hope you now understand.
2006-11-30 20:25:32 · answer #3 · answered by spag 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I started with my Sheriff's department, deputies *were* the dispatchers. They rotated through the 911 center as a regular assignment. Some answered the 911 calls, and some did the dispatching. It was great because they *knew* the county areas because they worked them, they knew the deputies out in the field, even they even knew some of the "fine upstanding citizens" who were calling or being called upon.
Unfortunately, over time, the department switched to non-LEO dispatchers. As hard as they try via ride-alongs, etc., those days of knowledge and trust are never to be regained.
2006-11-30 20:50:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
With few exceptions over 21 years working with dispatchers, I found them very professional and in fact, most care about the officers on the street as their "boys". They worry about the officers and try very hard to give the service needed.
There are always times that the information does not get out fast enough to suit the officer but when given time to understand what the dispatcher is dealing with, this delay is , most of the time, Understandable.
2006-11-30 20:52:02 · answer #5 · answered by Ranger473 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That gets down to management issues. Dispatchers are aware of who is out there and available to respond to certain calls. Certain cops don't want to respond to certain calls (or any calls), while others want to be called to every call. There are times when Dispatchers call out a certain car only to be told that "it is out of service" or "too far away". They know that the person(s) just don't want to handle the call. Around shift changes you get a lot of hassle from the cops as well. They don't want a call the last hour they are out there....no matter how busy everyone else is.
2006-11-30 20:28:12 · answer #6 · answered by tjjone 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I was a officer, we had some of the best dispatchers around, we got good calls, and they tried hard to get things right.
2006-11-30 21:14:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It would be great if the dispatchers spoke clear English, and not broken English. To many immigrants are hired as dispatchers and they a no speak a good English. Catch my drift
2006-11-30 21:07:15 · answer #8 · answered by spyderman131 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No way - I love our dispatchers!!!
They have the hardest job in the city!
They help me get home every night in one piece.
No gripes. Thank you to all of our hard working dispatchers!
I could not do my job, could not stay safe without you!
2006-11-30 20:46:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
the problem is...cops are a holes
2006-11-30 20:49:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 8⤋