 The duties of a
dispatcher are many. They are the
vital link between the citizen requesting assistance and the public safety
agency employed to perform that service. Information
is transferred to and from the officer in the field; the dispatcher links the
officer and information through resources and databases. These include
warrant
files, missing person reports, and criminal histories. Department personnel such
as the Detective Bureau may use that information for follow-up. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles keeps
extensive documentation on drivers, vehicles, and traffic infractions. On the other hand, the citizens may need
access to a list of trappers who might be able to assist removing an unwanted
animal, or the list of agency’s available to assist a family down on their
luck passing through town. Even the
water and electric utilities will get calls from the dispatcher on the behalf of
residents who mistake the police for having the ability to
restore power or water. This information needs to flow quickly
and efficiently through the dispatcher all the while they monitor the phones,
radios and computers for both routine and emergency calls.
|