Fresno Police 911 call center in crisis. Dispatchers not hitting state mandate, to answer calls in 15 …
by: Erik RosalesPosted: Jul 11, 2019 / 05:31 PM PDT / Updated: Jul 11, 2019 / 06:18 PM PDT
A Fresno County grand jury report found Fresno’s 911 emergency center is under staffed and not about the keep up with the call demand. So CBS47 went out to investigate.
When we need help, we run to the phone and dial 911.
But what happens if you call and no one picks up in a timely manner?
Inside the Fresno Police 911 emergency center, dispatchers are struggling to meet a state mandate to answer 95 percent of 911 calls in 15 seconds or less.
Fresno Police Lieutenant David Ramsey is in charge of the 911 center.
He says right now 80 to 84 percent of 911 calls are answered in 15 seconds or less.
Last year it was around 70 to 75 percent.
In the summer months, the busiest time for crime, that rate has dropped to around 60 percent in the past.
California’s Office of Emergency Services tells CBS47, it conducts a fiscal and operational review of 911 centers through out the state.
State officials say each one receives funding to support their equipment and failure to work with the state to achieve the standards set in the operations manual could jeopardize those funds.
Ramsey says, “We are doing anything and everything we can to meet that standard for our public. Because we want to deliver it to our public, we just can’t do it yet. So I would hope that they at least see we are trying and doing everything we can, and they wouldn’t pull those funds. They have not so far.”
Dispatcher helps save clerk shot in Gholson Road robbery attempt
A convenience store clerk shot in a robbery Wednesday night was likely saved by the actions of a Bellmead dispatcher who help lead Waco police to the injured man.
The clerk was shot at least twice in the robbery attempt by two men who entered the Huggy Bear Food Mart, 2924 Gholson Road, shortly before 11:10 p.m., police said. The injured clerk called 911 on a cellphone, which is more difficult to track than a landline.
Though the address was in Waco, Bellmead communications officer Kelsey Smith picked up the call and heard the man screaming for help, Bellmead Lt. Brenda Kinsey said.
Smith used call coordinates to narrow the location down to East Lake Shore Drive and Gholson Road and tried to keep the injured man on the phone.
Henrico County accepting dispatcher applications through early August
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Henrico County is now accepting applications for 911 dispatchers through the beginning of August.
The salary for the position starts at more than $38,000. The application process closes on Aug. 5.
The position’s hiring date is set for January 2020.
An application link and more information can be found here.
People called 9-1-1 to complain about the Amber Alert notification, once again
Toronto Police have once again had to reiterate that 9-1-1 is only for emergencies, following a number of calls from people complaining about this morning’s Amber Alert notification. At around 3am EST on July 11th, Ontarians received an Amber Alert through Canada’s Emergency Alert system. This prompted dozens of calls to 9-1-1 of people complaining that the alert woke them up.
Read more at MobileSyrup.com: People called 9-1-1 to complain about the Amber Alert notification, once again
Dispatchers get overdue recognition
By Karen Lopez publisher@sealynews.com
It’s about time!
Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed House Bill 1090 that states dispatchers are now considered first responders.
What does it mean to the many who are behind the scenes? In short, it means that they will be able to apply for and receive the same benefits as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT). Some may think this is not fair. What do dispatcher do anyway? They sit in an air-conditioned room, answer phones and talk on the radio; they don’t even get their hands dirty.
Before my newspaper career, I was a dispatcher for many years. Not only was it my past, but it was also my passion. I loved it. I walked away every day knowing that I had helped someone that day. How many people can say that? First responders – our everyday heroes!
We understand the jobs of police officers, firefighters and EMT’s but what do you know about dispatchers? Let me enlighten you some.
