TweetyZ Official Bear Family Member's blog: "DISPATCHER'S"

YOU may know where you are and what you are doing. GOD may know where you are and what you are doing. BUT if your DISPATCHER doesn't know where you are and what you are doing. then I hope that you and GOD are on very GOOD TERMS!!!! Author Unknown

Police Dispatchers have a unique world, Their whole shift is in a constant whirl, Calls come in, and calls go out, Pressure builds as the problems mount, Then it leads to mass frustration, Before gaining control of the situation. Dispatch a call--person in despair, The officer arrives--there's no one there; Not even the one who made the call; Let alone, the one who caused it all!! It seems unreal all the things you catch, Just another benefit of police dispatch. The dispatchers must always understand, They hold the officer's life in their hand. To forget a call or location, Could turn into a tragic situation. It only takes one "little" mistake, And an officer's life someone could take. They must stay calm in crisis situations, So they can control their communications. As the radio blares and the telephones ring, It seems imposable to handle these things. After all, that's what it is all about, So they keep their cool--and it all works out. Every part of the police profession, Seems to have its special situations. So when dispatchers want to quit in despair, We must assure them they are needed there. It takes a special person, and they are hard to catch, To do the job well--of police dispatch!! Author Unknown

I leave my home and my family too To go to the station my job to do, My kids don't know when I'll work or I wont My schedule's so crazy I sometimes don't! It's hard to leave when my family's at home But this shift will soon change, it won't be long. I walk in the door and the first thing I see Is the dispatcher on duty just before me. With a quick rundown of the day's events, A sympathetic smile and a couple of hints, She's out the door and back to her life And I whisper a prayer for safety tonight. My two worlds are different in so many ways The language we speak, the things that we say. At home it's, "Mom, can I have some more, please?" And here, it's 10-4 and 10-29P's. Though different at times they're similar too Because someone's life is depending on you. You answer the phone call after call - A lost dog, a found cat, or nothing at all. Then the phone rings and the voice on the line Is screaming for help and you know that it's time Your Training takes over, you get help on the way, As you dispatch units you silently pray. "Oh, Lord, please go with them where ever they go They're risking their lives for one they don't know. For every officer I have to send Is not just my co-worker but also my friend. They have homes and families too, So I'm asking you, Lord, Please see them through." As the first of the officers arrive on the scene You hear the radio beginning to sing. Send Rescue, and Crime Scene, and CID Get some more units and call 1, 2, and 3. Send out a BOLO, call this girl's mom Have her go to the hospital but try to sound calm. The crisis is over and they're back on patrol And you know it's okay to lose control. A couple of tears, a few minutes alone And back out you go to answer more phones. The music's too loud, there's a cow in the road The neighbors are watering in spite of the code. The next dispatcher is a welcome site When she walks in and says, "Been a long night?" You give a quick rundown of the day's events, A sympathetic smile and a couple of hints, And when the last of my officers calls 10-42 Today my job's done and I go home too. Written by : Karen Whaley

Do you know me? Sure you do. I'm just a dispatcher! You know the one. The one that you talk about, the one you hate. I'm the one who always screws up you the calls you go on, do you think I enjoy giving you incorrect information. Did you stop and think maybe the caller gave me the information wrong? I'm the "stupid" one because I cannot hear you with your siren blaring in the background, a child on the screaming into the phone that daddy is beating up mommy, a hysterical parent whose child is on drugs or because you may just have your music up to loud and I have to ask you to repeat something. I am the one who must maintain a calm voice when inside I am feeling sick because of a hot call you are on. Trying to make out what you are saying when you are running and the adrenaline is pumping. I am the one who understands when you reply with a smart remark or sarcasm, knowing you have a stressful job. Remember I too have a stressful job. I'm the one who, when you get in a foot chase, fight, traffic stop, domestic, person with a gun or any other call worry and am out of my seat until I hear 3 words. Central, Under Control. I'm the one you think is Rude but you as I do must remember that even though we are not out on that call, I sometimes feel helpless not knowing what is happening with you because of radio silence due to a hot call. So I too get stressed out. I am the one who gets to listen to my voice on the tape when you think I am being rude or didn't handle a call right. Have you ever listened to yourself? I am the one with the heart that skips a beat when you are on a traffic stop and cannot be raised on the radio. I am the one who panics when you scream for help but I don't know where you are because YOU forgot to sign out. I am the one who is spoken to in a hateful tone because I try to send you on a call but YOU forgot to sign out somewhere. I'm the one who has to guess if you had time to finish a call because YOU forgot to sign back on. Yes, I am all these things to you but remember I am the one who feels ultimately responsible for you and have the greatest respect and concern for Law Enforcement Officers or I would not be doing this job. I am the one who prays that each one of you go home to your families at the end of your shift! Do you know me? I hope now not only do you know me but understand me and see me in a different light!!

THE CHIEF of police leaps tall building in a single bound, is more powerful than a locomotive, is faster than a speeding bullet, walks on water and gives policy to God. THE ASSISTANT CHIEF leaps shorter buildings in a single bound, is more powerful than a Switch Engine, and is just as fast as a speeding bullet, walks on water if it is calm, and talks to God. THE CAPTAIN leaps short building with a running start, and favorable wind conditions. He is almost as powerful as a switch engine and faster than a speeding bullet, walks on water of an indoor pool, and talks to God if special request is approved. THE LIEUTENANT barely clears quonset huts, loses tug of war with Locomotives, can fire a speeding bullet, swims well and is occasional addressed by God. THE SERGEANT makes high marks when trying to leap buildings, is ran over by Locomotives and sometimes handles a gun without inflicting self injury, can dog paddle, and talks to himself. THE DETECTIVE runs into buildings, recognizes Locomotives two out of three times, is issued ammunition, can stay afloat if properly instructed, and talks to water. THE PATROLMAN falls over door sills when entering buildings, says "look at the choo choo", wets himself with a water pistol, and can never never ever talk to God. THE DISPATCHER lifts up buildings and walks under them, kicks Locomotives off of the tracks, catches speeding bullets in her teeth and chews them, and freezes water with a single glance. THE DISPATCHER IS GOD!!

We sit in a room... So dark and small... Waiting for ... A 911 call... We listen to your voice... And hear your pain... We want to help.... Although at times it seems to be in vain... Our job isn't glamorous... It isn't for all... We're there to help... When you make that call... There's crying... And screaming.... And small voices in pain... That breaks our hearts.... But in that there's no shame.... To hear a small child..... Scared because mom isn't home.... Or the voice of an old woman.... Who's husband just moans..... We don't ask for fanfare.... Or even a cheer..... It's enough to know.... That help is finally near..... Our job is to help..... To make you feel safe.... To make those long moments... Go quickly as they came.... And at the end of the day...... When we can shut off our fears.... We get in our cars..... And shed a few tears.... Because the next day we'll be back.... In a room dark and small.... Waiting for.... A 911 call..... Written by: Lawrence Roche

We have worked together for many years, It's our voices ringing in your ears. We try to make those long days brighter, And hopefully, the load a little lighter. We send you to the bar-room brawl. And out in the rain to the nuisance call. We worry about you day and night. To make sure every call turns out all right. We share your sorrows, we share your joys, That's why we think of you as ... "Our boys." Then why have we never said to you, "I'm proud of you ... my friend in blue." Esther Corby

Top ten signs that your relationship with your K-9 is getting too intimate 1. Lunch usually consists of a pizza topped with one half meatballs and the other half kibble. 2. You demand your K-9 buddy get a locker, too. 3. In case there's an emergency, you carry a wee-wee pad wherever you go. 4. You get a kick out of asking him how his day was and he always answers "ruff." 5. He is the only one who laughs at your jokes. 6. Out of habit, you start scratching your spouse's belly during tender moments. 7. For Christmas you knit a little doggy uniform and buy doggy boots to keep his paws warm and dry. 8. For Valentine's Day you fill a heart-shaped box with doggy treats. 9. At training class, you pass him love notes under the desk. 10. You want to have his puppies

Another morning has approached as I think of my officer again. One of the many officers that swore to serve and to protect, and gave up his life in the very end. That fateful day is something that I am not allowed to forget. It is that memory that reappears each time I put on my headset. And when I sit in front of the radio and dispatch my officers to a priority call, I silently hope and pray that I hear them clear, instead of hearing them take the fall. You see, I have always read their voices and sent back up when I sensed tension or fear. But now, more than ever, it is their voice I want to continue to hear. Taking for granted that you will hear an officer do another traffic stop, just should not be done. For it does not matter how routine the stop or call may be, it only takes one. When one of our brothers or sisters is lost in the field, the briefing room will then be left with an empty space. And in our hearts it is perceived, that this brother or sister will never be replaced. It is my solemn vow to all of my officers to give my very best, and to be the voice they want to hear in their worst times of distress. It is for my officers that my loyalty is firmly planted, And it is their voices that I will never again, take for granted. By Paula Ann Gomes