Manchester Police Department dispatchers are the epitome of multi-taskers, taking emergency calls, researching the location, keeping an eye out on other screens and dispatching an officer to the scene all with the goal of keeping everyone safe. Photo/Pat Grossmith
MANCHESTER, NH – Last Thursday at 3 p.m., Manchester Police Department dispatchers Alexa Perrotti, 27, and Matt LaDuke, 25, arrived at their desks to see 12 calls already stacked up awaiting officers’ arrival.
That’s the norm, says Supervisor Kristin Wilder.
One dispatcher, taking the calls, is on one concerning an 11-year-old who is being followed by someone in a truck who is screaming the “N” word at him and his friend. Police are immediately dispatched.
Dispatchers answering calls – an average of 261 per day, 70,213 so far this year — must obtain as much detailed information as possible from the caller: Name, location, what happened, anyone hurt, is a weapon involved. While doing that, the dispatcher is simultaneously researching the call itself – have police been to that location before, were there any threats and assessing the danger level to both the citizen and police. The information is needed to ensure both the safety of the caller and the officer…
After spending $150,000 and participating in months of work to develop a long-term plan to guide the county during unprecedented growth, Santa Rosa County commissioners are apprehensive about the lack of new information in the report.
Matrix Design Group presented its 2035 strategic plan to the board earlier this week.
“You have to plan for your future, but right at this point I’m kind of disappointed,” said BOCC Vice Chairman Bob Cole. “I’m looking at 70 pages of stuff we already knew.”
The BOCC in January approved paying Matrix about $150,000 to conduct the study, which Cole said he somewhat regrets… READ MORE
The Northern Middlesex Regional Emergency Communication Center (NMRECC) is seeking experienced, qualified public safety 911 Dispatchers. Candidates must possess certifications in EMD, 911, CPR and AED, IMC, and CJIS. Certification from APCO as a PST1 or equivalent is preferred. Candidate to become certified in Next Generation 911 systems through the MA State 911 Department and in TTY hearing impaired equipment.
NASHVILLE (WSMV) – If you call 911 in Nashville, you may get a follow-up text. It’s a way to give and get feedback to improve emergency communications.
Stephen Martini the director of Metro Nashville’s Department of Emergency Communications says the CueHit System was launched by the department just a few weeks ago.
Now, if you call 911 or the non-emergency number it will send a text asking you on a scale of one to five how your dispatcher handled the call. You can then provide comments and feedback…
Highland leaders are facing what the mayor calls “a difficult decision” for the future of its police dispatchers. The police dispatchers say they believe the decision has already been made. In 2015, the state passed the 911 consolidation bill that required Madison County to go from 16 “public safety answering points” or PSAPs to eight. The current consolidation plan will require that Highland’s 911 calls be routed through the Collinsville Police Department…
Personnel Division has sent 95 applicants to police since June, only 6 have been hired.
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis’ Personnel Department has sent 95 applicants to the understaffed and overworked police dispatch center since June – but only six have been hired.
What’s the hold up?
Police and city leaders say problems with those applicants, and the personnel process, are making it hard to hire people. And that is part of what’s keeping callers on hold for far longer than industry standards, according to Lt. Adam Koeln, commander of the police department’s Communications Division…
Learn about current efforts to continue to protect the 4.9 GHz Band for public safety as well as recent filings, key decisions impacting these efforts, and how you can support PSSA’s initiative to protect the 4.9 GHz band for public safety.
