It's Macarena Time!
by The Sage
Note: The publisher would like our readers to know that The Sage is a demented old gossip who enjoys ranting in the public forum. No rationale person could possibly take the advice or gossip seriously, even though The Sage claims to be someone who "knows all and tells all." Also, the visage of The Sage shown here is only representative. In fact, we have no idea if The Sage actually has a beard or appears contemplative in person.
©1997 911 Dispatch Services, Inc.
Dear Sage,
I work in a comm center that requires two dispatchers per shift. Several
of us are tired of two senior dispatchers who find it their place to know
all and control all. I can never do a thing in the room without one of them
wanting to know what I just did or whom I just spoke to...or one of them
explaining step by step how they like to see things done. Mind you, I am
no inexperienced dispatcher I have tried bringing it to their attention.
One replies she is either a.) Just nosy (her words) or b.) Just trying to
help. The other believes she is above all criticism herself. I am tired
of being given directives 40 hours a week...so much so that I look forward
to the lady who calls 911 to ask how to properly dispose of dryer sheets,
(true story) but at least then I laugh!!! Help me before I am...
Dispatcher Gone Postal
Dear Postal,
You didn't mention how your comm center is supervised--or if one of these
women is your supervisor! Either way, I can tell it's affecting your
ability to work effectively, so I'd ask your supervisor for a "moderated
meeting" with one or both of the women. I'd set out very clearly that,
"Comm centers are such confined workplaces, we all have to be sensitive
to the privacy of others. It makes me feel uncomfortable when you ask me
about my private business. So please don't ask me questions while we're
on duty." Hopefully, this clears the air. Oh, just be sure that you
reciprocate by not asking questions about their private business.
Sage
Bug Squashing: For those using Centracom CRT-style consoles and who have multi-transmitter sites, I've located some programming code that insiders say sometimes locks up the console and mutes received audio. The dispatcher has to press the XMIT key to unlock the whole thing, if they notice that something's wrong. It's not a big problem, but apparently it's one that Motorola knows about but hasn't taken a few minutes to track down and stomp out. Keep your eye on that BUSY light, OK?
Dear Sage,
(I took your advice, Sage)...Sure enough, the next day all 10 pages of your
"911 Do's and Don'ts" had been ripped down. I responded to that
action with an e-mail to the entire office asking whomever was sabotaging
my efforts to educate myself and those around me to cease. This generated
only 2 replies, to which I had to reply. After the second e-mail I sent,
it was amazing the change in attitude of the offending parties. They were
very, very nice to me, and I think I gained some respect I didn't have before
by keeping my head, approaching the situation with a bit of humor, and by
not backing down from what I believe is important. Overall I feel I won
that battle, and now I post things there and nobody touches them except
to read. The best part is now the back of the door has become a point of
interest, and everyone checks there to see what I'm up to this week.
Solved
Dear Solved,
Thanks for the update. The Sage is wise, yes? Now, can you and I
discuss the national debt?
Sage
Slow Moving: My crystal ball shows the license-free, 902-928 MHz band to be very active. My SoCal dispy says a LAPD bigwig is pointing to the Metricom wireless data network for 760 mobile data computers (they call it "Field Capture Mobile Data Project"). But get this--Metricom doesn't even have network coverage in LA! Even worse, Metricom's spread-spectrum technology using 162 channels is unreliable when a patrol car vehicle travels over 6 m.p.h.! Willie, tell me it isn't true!
Dear Sage,
I'm a 911 director in (deleted). I am constantly frustrated with the people
and laws that cover 911 issues. As a small rural county...we are expected
to conduct the same business dispatching and taking calls as those larger
metropolitan counties. Where will it end? Are the people, buildings and
incidents any less important in a rural county than in a large metropolitan
county. Not to those involved!! We are asked to accomplish the exact
same tasks and maintain the same training, knowledge, and equipment as our
brothers and sisters in the larger populated areas. People out there on
the street have no idea of where and how the 911 dispatcher fits into the
spectrum of aiding people in the time(s) they need it. How do we as public
servants complete this heavy responsibility? We do the best we can and take
care of the situations as they arise. We put up with complaints from the
general public and the agencies we dispatch and very seldom get a "thank
you" or a pat on the back saying good job.
S.B.
Dear S.B.,
Amen
Sage
Squeeze Play: I'm not much for book plugs, but this book hasn't been written yet. Francis X. Holt wants to hear about the most stressful parts of the job. While teaching stress management classes, he discovered that supervisors and dispatchers have a different perspective on what causes stress. You can send him your hairy stories as P.O. Box 644, Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896.