Um, maybe a rant?

[hubb017]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that experiences this but here goes:

Normally, we have five officers on a shift at a time. Since the supervisor butted heads with one the other day, and since another had to take off work for two weeks (lucky b@$t@rd), that left us with three.

With that said, it seemed like every call we had yesterday could have been avoided, with the exception of some, of course. For example, a lady calls the Police Dept because a guy is trying to catch his dog and put him back on his chain. When I was dispatched, I became "upset" but then realized that I am training a cadet at the time.

There are lots of times when we get calls that we shouldn't even respond to and the trainee has even pointed it out, laughing at the calls (he's only been here about a week), saying he was going to call the Police when he got home because his trash can needed to be emptied or he needed some grits and eggs for breakfast:D.

I discussed the issue with some bigger brass, you know, having 911 try to screen some of the calls, but has been to no avail. It probably would be no big deal, except we have to document EVERYTHING and it takes longer to set up the report than it does to actually do the report, which has us off the streets at times.

I think I'm done ranting. Anyone else have this problem?

[Valor55]

We have a similar assinine policy of responding to anyone who calls for police. And we get some stupid calls. I heard of one from another who officer where a woman called because she was stuck in traffic and needed an officer to go through her unlocked back door and take a turkey out of the oven for her. A supervisor actually used some common sense and violated policy by getting on the radio and stating that we were not going on that call. If the house was on fire we would send the fire department. :D

[Cat_Doc]

I know a lot of police executives do not trust call takers or 9-1-1 operators to handle anything themselves. They are worried about liability issues.

Do you have the authority to handle one of those stupid calls over the phone instead of wasting time and gas to show up in person?

And, if you have a competent CAD system, why can't dispatch simply make a short notation in the comments field instead of having you guys waste valuable time writing about minor crap?

The cops should be out there in an omnipresence mode, being seen, being proactive, not sitting around writing paper because someone hung their underwear over the neighbors side of the fence to dry, or they friggen left their cell phone on top of the gas pump and now it's gone.

CAD systems qualify as a permanent, historical document. Use them and let the cops go do police work.

[Darin]

I think I'm done ranting. Anyone else have this problem?

Yes. We do the exact same thing your dept does as far as writing a report on everything we are dispatched to. I can see the point in a way BUT I feel it wastes too much patrol time to do a silly report on helping someone find a dog.

We recently got a call of half a snowman in the road. Well it was half a snowman in the road and tool 33 seconds to move it. Now we had to write a 12 minute report on 33 seconds of "work". We get a call of a stick in the road. Guess what....that's another report.

[Darin]

CAD systems qualify as a permanent, historical document. Use them and let the cops go do police work.

I like the way you think. :D

[greenhead]

Ummm..... I'm sensing the 911 call I just placed because a light bulb burnt out in my basement is not an emergency? What do you guys do?!:D ;)

[Cat_Doc]

Yes. We do the exact same thing your dept does as far as writing a report on everything we are dispatched to. I can see the point in a way BUT I feel it wastes too much patrol time to do a silly report on helping someone find a dog.

We recently got a call of half a snowman in the road. Well it was half a snowman in the road and tool 33 seconds to move it. Now we had to write a 12 minute report on 33 seconds of "work". We get a call of a stick in the road. Guess what....that's another report.

This is absolutely asinine, archaic and negligent regarding time and resource management.

The example below is exactly what would happen on my department.

Dispatch: 1241, report of road debris, intersection of Apple and Peach.

1241: En route.

1241: Arrived at scene.

Eight seconds later...

1241: Debris removed, back in service.

That's it, that's all it takes, nothing more. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either playing the numbers game, or they are a friggen idiot out of touch with the reality of police work, or most likely; a combination of both.

Feel free to tell your Chief about my comment.

[mcsap]

Our 911 center MUST dispatch any call recieved. If their BS meter is pinned , they will have the Sgt ( me) call in for the info. THEY are not permitted to decide on the credibility of a call , that is up to us.

Otherwise , they will dispatch the call and if I determine that we are not going to respond or take action...I'll advise dispatch..." we are not going to repsond " , clear the call.

We geet advised of EVERY ambulance call , even to a nursing home. We may go to an amb call at a house to assist in lifting etc.

[Darin]

Anyone who thinks otherwise is either playing the numbers game

That is exactly what it is. Our old Chief was a numbers man. I've been hoping the new Chief would change that...

[Roger Dat]

We are lucky to have enough manpower an a full dispatch staff that we are one of 2 agencies in the County that does not get polled or dispatched by 911. If 911 fields a call for our jurisdiction it is transferred to our Hq who then decides whether or not it gets dispatched or not.

[hubb017]

I know a lot of police executives do not trust call takers or 9-1-1 operators to handle anything themselves. They are worried about liability issues.

Do you have the authority to handle one of those stupid calls over the phone instead of wasting time and gas to show up in person?

And, if you have a competent CAD system, why can't dispatch simply make a short notation in the comments field instead of having you guys waste valuable time writing about minor crap?

The cops should be out there in an omnipresence mode, being seen, being proactive, not sitting around writing paper because someone hung their underwear over the neighbors side of the fence to dry, or they friggen left their cell phone on top of the gas pump and now it's gone.

CAD systems qualify as a permanent, historical document. Use them and let the cops go do police work.

+1. That's exactly what I was trying to say to the Chief about the issue. As far as trusting some dispatchers, well, there are one or two that I would trust, but would rather go ahead and respond to the call rather than leave it in their hands. I was just ranting about the paperwork on the calls that make no sense.

As far as handling calls over the phone, that's only if the complainant requests it (although it's done sometimes on the night watch when the brass ain't shiney;)

[hubb017]

...That's it, that's all it takes, nothing more. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either playing the numbers game, or they are a friggen idiot out of touch with the reality of police work, or most likely; a combination of both...

Agreed, again. The other day, I had a conversation with the Chief. He made mention of a Generation Y or something like that and said that generation always questions things, mainly questioning that "well, that's the way it always been" thing. He said I was Generation Y (like that's a bad thing).

At my department, I think that is what it's about. He says that it will change eventually, but that was a year ago.

[Hockey9019]

You have to right a report on EVERY call that you do ANYTHING on? :eek:

[Darin]

You have to right a report on EVERY call that you do ANYTHING on? :eek:

Yes and any call that I DON"T do anything on.

[Roger Dat]

Most things at my department are reported through blotters only. The only way something gets a page is if it involves some sort of investigation or isnt wrapped up and needs to be kicked back to detectives.