If the scope is down, we can't run wants and warrants. That also means we can't run criminal histories. We'll let you know when it's up again. Sorry, but deal with it.
Amen brother...I have heard the dispatchers at the old job tell us after we called in service that CRIS was down and not 5 mins later someone was requesting a QWW ( query wants and warrants)
*quote=Bill Mattocks;1221374] Somebody ought to consider speaking into the mike instead of past it once in awhile. I know those shoulder lapel mikes are cool and all, but if you don't turn your head when you key the mike, we can't hear you - we hear the guy you're talking to.
Those ones where the mike is up your sleeve and the speaker is in your ear ALWAYS sound muffled
*quote=Bill Mattocks;1221374] And while we're speaking of mikes, here's a tip. Press the button before you start talking and then let go after you stop talking. If you're unit 3-5-2 and all we hear is "bzzt-crackle-two," we don't know who you are. If you find we say 'last unit' over and over with regard to your traffic, you're the one, by the way.
* The land line is taped just like the radio. Calling us from your cell phones or a pay phone won't give us free reign to tell you what we'd like to say and you'd like to hear us say - our calls are routinely monitored by the shift supervisor, you know that. If we can't say it over the net, we can't say it over the phone. Meet us at the sally port if you want to get the low-down.
* 10-3 the net means 10-3 the net. Stop talking. You should know that your watch commander is the only one who can give a 10-3 order, so if I'm saying 10-3 the net, it's really him that's saying it, not some lowly dispatcher. So shut up, already.
However, by and large, during my time as a dispatcher, we got along very well with our officers, and they got along with us. We all felt like members of the same team, and that was a good thing. I always tried to be professional, level-headed, and keep track of my officers to keep them safe.
When an officer pulled traffic, I always knew where my other free officers were in case I needed to start rolling units their way. I kept on good terms with neighboring jurisdictions so that if I needed to ask them to roll in they'd be willing to do it without a lot of red tape and supervisors involved. I passed good scoop and kept officers in the loop on what they needed to know to stay safe, like drunk or crazy r/p's, you know.
You might also know that most of us are also call takers when things get busy. Sometimes we're running a channel and taking 911 calls at the same time, and that can be a real task to manage.
Try taking a call from a little girl whose dad just stabbed her mom in front of her and is now waving 'goodbye' to her from the picnic table in the back yard where he has fashioned a rope noose and he hangs himself in front of her while she is on the phone with 911 AND you're keying the mike and saying UNIT 3-5-1, I REPEAT, I HAVE TRAFFIC! Yeah, I know you have traffic, stand by one, ok? Some times you just have to be big boy and wait a second or two.
Anyway, just remembering old times. Mostly good times. Some not so good. But I always respected my officers and tried to protect them, and they always did the same to us.
