So, I take it you know how to stay safe at night then, right ? ;) in all seriousness though, as a former dispatcher and current LEO, thanks for everything you do. Being a dispatcher was way more stressful than being a cop. Now, I worry about myself and my coworkers, but actually having the ability to do something first hand is way better than having to sit back and listen when the shit hits the fan.
Where I worked we answered 911 calls while dispatching. I remember one shift I was going through EMD (emergency medical dispatch) with a parent that found their 5 year old face down in their pool. While that was going on a 44ip (armed robbery in progress) came up on my dispatch screen. Gave the 44 call out and had a unit confirm the location, as he was sitting in the parking lot at that very address (a bank with parking on two sides- he was on one side, 3 masked men with long rifles entered on the other side).
Next thing I know, I have the officer screaming "63, 63, 63 (OFFICER NEEDS HELD RIGHT AWAY) SHOTS FIRED!!!" The panic in his voice and hearing shots in the background I will never forget.
Meanwhile, I am still having to talk this lady through CPR ( while following EMD protocol to the "t", and update that call in CAD for fireboard while simultaneously entering all the information from the 44 call into CAD and dispatching units to that scene and relaying all that information across my radio frequency and updating the 911 center (12 other frequencies/precincts) of the situation so they could advise the units on their frequencies and to notify the operator that picks up dispatching duties for my frequency when my radio is held for emergency traffic only (such as a unit out on a call with shots fired).
To have to do all that, while listening to a mother cry as she is losing her baby and listen to an officer screaming for help as they are being shot at by 3 guys with long rifles- that drains a person. Just sitting there knowing that you are the lifeline for all these people and knowing that you play a major part in their survival, yet are physically powerless to stop it- and are expected to move on like nothing happened once it is over, because as always, their are more 911 calls ringing and more calls for service are popping up in your dispatch screen.
Then having to keep track of 12-25 officers at all times and putting up with all their requests...
Screw that. I'll take my glock, my ar-15, my fire extinguisher, my AED, my medical bag, and my crown Vic and and my MDT and do everything myself and with my buddy and only have a tenth of the stress.
Whatever you do- make sure you take time for yourself and your family. Take vacations and just get away from it all everyone in a while.
Jtaa7143 karma
So, I take it you know how to stay safe at night then, right ? ;) in all seriousness though, as a former dispatcher and current LEO, thanks for everything you do. Being a dispatcher was way more stressful than being a cop. Now, I worry about myself and my coworkers, but actually having the ability to do something first hand is way better than having to sit back and listen when the shit hits the fan.
Where I worked we answered 911 calls while dispatching. I remember one shift I was going through EMD (emergency medical dispatch) with a parent that found their 5 year old face down in their pool. While that was going on a 44ip (armed robbery in progress) came up on my dispatch screen. Gave the 44 call out and had a unit confirm the location, as he was sitting in the parking lot at that very address (a bank with parking on two sides- he was on one side, 3 masked men with long rifles entered on the other side).
Next thing I know, I have the officer screaming "63, 63, 63 (OFFICER NEEDS HELD RIGHT AWAY) SHOTS FIRED!!!" The panic in his voice and hearing shots in the background I will never forget.
Meanwhile, I am still having to talk this lady through CPR ( while following EMD protocol to the "t", and update that call in CAD for fireboard while simultaneously entering all the information from the 44 call into CAD and dispatching units to that scene and relaying all that information across my radio frequency and updating the 911 center (12 other frequencies/precincts) of the situation so they could advise the units on their frequencies and to notify the operator that picks up dispatching duties for my frequency when my radio is held for emergency traffic only (such as a unit out on a call with shots fired).
To have to do all that, while listening to a mother cry as she is losing her baby and listen to an officer screaming for help as they are being shot at by 3 guys with long rifles- that drains a person. Just sitting there knowing that you are the lifeline for all these people and knowing that you play a major part in their survival, yet are physically powerless to stop it- and are expected to move on like nothing happened once it is over, because as always, their are more 911 calls ringing and more calls for service are popping up in your dispatch screen.
Then having to keep track of 12-25 officers at all times and putting up with all their requests...
Screw that. I'll take my glock, my ar-15, my fire extinguisher, my AED, my medical bag, and my crown Vic and and my MDT and do everything myself and with my buddy and only have a tenth of the stress.
Whatever you do- make sure you take time for yourself and your family. Take vacations and just get away from it all everyone in a while.
And don't date cops ;)
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