Read Full Article | View Source

Since Jeremy Hipes took over as the emergency communications manager at the Astoria Police Department almost six months ago, one of his top priorities has been recruitment.

Ideally, he would have a staff of 10 dispatchers. Instead, he has six: four fully certified telecommunicators and two trainees.

Jeremy Hipes

The staffing shortage at the Astoria emergency dispatch center has led to overtime hours and weekend work for his team, which dispatches for more than a dozen agencies, including police and fire departments in Astoria and Warrenton, the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office and several rural fire districts…