Red Wave Radio

Hello,

 I hope not to offend anyone here, and my message isn't really directed
 to those in this group, but more in hope that you will pass it on to
 others. I am a communications dispatcher, we do Police/Fire/EMS for an
 Ohio County. I think that fully 20% of homes in the area have a scanner
 in them (no one turns them down when they call 911).
 Many of the dedicated scanner monitors know our frequencies and codes
 as well or beter than we do. A problem comes up when we make the  
 occasional (daily) mistake and say the wrong engine company number
 (some have the tones down to the point that they can tell which engine
 I am calling by the tone sound-we have about 60 different tones!!).
 While I respect the desire that scanner buffs have for monitoring, I  
 really have my hands full when I am on the job. Very often I do not
 have time  to answer the phone 5-6 times when this occurs and explain
 what happened...I had 2 scanner buffs call in (one on 911) to tell me  
 that I  said  engine 1-11 when I toned  2-11 today. Another example:
 People that call in to ask details on calls. If the call really is
 "intense", I am probably as busy as can get with alarms and stuff...
 Thanks for allowing me to vent...

 Good signals!!

 Bill Doss

[snip]

Quote:>  others. I am a communications dispatcher, we do Police/Fire/EMS for an
>  Ohio County.
[snip]
>  really have my hands full when I am on the job. Very often I do not
>  have time  to answer the phone 5-6 times when this occurs and explain
>  what happened...I had 2 scanner buffs call in (one on 911) to tell me
>  that I  said  engine 1-11 when I toned  2-11 today.

Quote:>  People that call in to ask details on calls.

Quote:>  Thanks for allowing me to vent...

--
Strong signals,
Rich   N2MCA
Owner : AR8000 ATS-909 BC80/100/220/230/3000/9000XLT
        FT-470 HS200 IC-A22/R1 MVT-7100 SC150B
        Pro-26/34/43/51/60/2004/2006/2037/2042/2045
Formerly owned : BCT-7 BC8500XLT
North Carolina editor for The Scanner Club
http://www.enter.net/~jheller/scanclub.html

Chuck

      bill

Quote:> as well or beter than we do. A problem comes up when we make the  
> occasional (daily) mistake and say the wrong engine company number

Quote:> People that call in to ask details on calls. If the call really is
> "intense", I am probably as busy as can get with alarms and stuff...

Peter

Keep up the good work you dispatchers!

                              .

                               .
                     /^\     .
                /\   "V"
               /__\   I      O  o
              //..\\  I     .           The Goddess is alive
              \].`[/  I                 and Magick is afoot.
              /l\/j\  (]    .  O

             \\L__j^\/I       o
              \/--v}  I     o   .
              |    |  I   _________
              |    |  I c(`       ')o
              |    l  I   \.     ,/
            _/j  L l\_!  _//^---^\\_
         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't want to seem dense, but I am having a very hard time understanding
the thought process of some one,  that would call a police / fire
dispatcher with this type of trivial BS.  I think the dispatchers do an
excellent job and I would like to thank them for their work helping the
rest of us...

Bill,

I also understand the concerns that can arise when the public and the
media
are calling you, especially if they are using 911, while you are
conducting emer-
gency communications.

Here in NC, we still have some counties where, on the graveyard shift, the
dis-
patcher is responsible for telecommunications, dispatching law enforcement
/
fire / ems, and regular checks of the jail cells.  I remember an incident
where
a dispatcher fell and was hurt running across the buidling from the jail
facilities,
trying to answer a call on the 911 line (Jones County in eastern NC).

Here's a couple of suggestions that might help your situation:
      - If you have enhanced 911, call them back after the shift.  Ask
them to call
        in on your non-emergency phone line in the future, but thank them
for their
        help.
      - If someone's trying to be helpful, maybe you could have them come
down
        to the dispatch facilities at a "convenient" time for a tour.  A
tour can help
        them understand just how hectic your job can be when the tones
sound.

I've found that a little bit of encouragement and understanding can go a
long way.
The fact that people are calling means that they are listening, and might
one day
make the difference.  If I remember correctly, there was a car dealership
fire in
the Jersey City, NJ area about three years ago ... several firefighters
lost their
lives when they became trapped in a back room area.  Firefighters outside
the
building didn't hear them on the fireground channel, although some area
monitors
did hear their calls for help and called the department.  Unfortunately,
the other
firefighters couldn't get to the trapped men in time.

Hopefully, you and your agencies can find a way to smooth the rough edges
on
some of your listeners, and turn them into an asset for the agencies.

Good luck, and always feel free to vent your concerns with the newsgroup!

Jeff Multer, C***te, NC

 -=> Quoting "bob Fay" to All <=-

 > I don't want to seem dense, but I am having a very hard time
 > understanding the thought process of some one,  that would call a
 > police / fire dispatcher with this type of trivial BS.  I think the
 > dispatchers do an excellent job and I would like to thank them for
 > their work helping the rest of us...

 You should have heard the phone calls to the San Diego Fire Department
 when PSA went down.

 "I just saw a jet go down....now I don't know where, but from here it
 look like......" kinda crap.

 Idiots on a freeway, miles away, tying up the emergency numbers with
 useless drivial.

 My tapes probably could be used in some human psychology class as a
 study in stupidity.

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->>
->>>
->>> Hello,
->>>
->>>  I hope not to offend anyone here, and my message isn't really
->directed
->>>  to those in this group, but more in hope that you will pass it on
->to
->>>  others. I am a communications dispatcher, we do Police/Fire/EMS for
->an
->>>  Ohio County. I think that fully 20% of homes in the area have a
->scanner
->>>  in them (no one turns them down when they call 911).
->>>  Many of the dedicated scanner monitors know our frequencies and
->codes
->>>  as well or beter than we do. A problem comes up when we make the
->>>  occasional (daily) mistake and say the wrong engine company number
->>>  (some have the tones down to the point that they can tell which
->engine
->>>  I am calling by the tone sound-we have about 60 different tones!!).
->>>  While I respect the desire that scanner buffs have for monitoring,
->I
->>>  really have my hands full when I am on the job. Very often I do not
->>>  have time  to answer the phone 5-6 times when this occurs and
->explain
->>>  what happened...I had 2 scanner buffs call in (one on 911) to tell
->me
->>>  that I  said  engine 1-11 when I toned  2-11 today. Another
->example:
->>>  People that call in to ask details on calls. If the call really is
->>>  "intense", I am probably as busy as can get with alarms and
->stuff...
->>>  Thanks for allowing me to vent...
->>>
->>>  Good signals!!
->>>
->>>  Bill Doss

->>
->>From another dispatcher....ditto!
->>
->>Chuck
->
->      Get an unlisted phone number.
->
->      bill
        GET AN UNLISTED PHONE NUMBER?!?   What kind of a jackass reply is
that?! This dispatcher has an excellent point and makes sense. Plus anyone
that would call 911 to waste time with rediculous questions and comments is
a moron.
I heard a shooting go down last night in Newark NJ and this dispatcher had his
hands full during a tense situation. He had to co-ordinate EMS, Robbery, Crime
Scene, ***, SGTs, LT's, and Capt's calling in. Units responding, crowd
control, give locations, file numbers and times. Then the Cnty. Prosecutor and
of course IAB needs to get invoved.   He did a great job and never sounded
flustered. He even found time to complement others for a good job. I don't
know how some of these guys keep it all straight. Give Em' a break.
Phil

I have been scanning the PS bands for 20 years. I have never called 911,
never showed up at the fire, crime scene or 7 car pile-up. I have called
the non-emergency number 2 or 3 times (I think the guy with the shaved
head and AC/DC T-shirt is hiding behind my house). The main reason I
don't get "involved" is because I don't want to be "known" to the
police, fire, EMT's as the guy with the scanner. I have a few friends in
Public Safety and they tell me that once you get the "Guy with the
scanner" label, you may attract traffic tickets, stops for ID and so on.
I enjoy my hobby, but its just that a HOBBY! I am not a junior patrolman
or fireman.

Steve in Escondido, CA

Quote:> >>  I hope not to offend anyone here, and my message isn't really
> directed
> >>  to those in this group, but more in hope that you will pass it on
> to
> >>  others. I am a communications dispatcher, we do Police/Fire/EMS for
> an
> >>  Ohio County. I think that fully 20% of homes in the area have a
> scanner

Quote:

> >From another dispatcher....ditto!

>       Get an unlisted phone number.

Todd

   laugh mr ridiculous...it's humah.  da kine is funny
   play on situations which I guess just whooooossssssshhhhhhed
    over your head....

   stand up and give your brain a rest....exercise your mind-stem.

   bill conduit
   etc.

   NOTE: R I D I C U L O U S....

   u no got a funny bone brah....make light and see mellow

   give your brain a breather and stand up and air it out....
   phew....

   exercise your mind-stem...it needs a change.

   make humah...we say dat in hawaii...u no like.

   hold your breath a long time ... then forget to breathe.

   mellow out brah...dis post humah-kine....

   bill conduit
   etc.