As I write this I am listening to it rain outside the department. There is an exit door right by my station which allows me to hear outside noises very easily. Have always enjoyed listening to rain, hard and fierce, or softly with small drips. The sound is soothing.
Then it occurred to me. I was LISTENING to it rain. Long time readers know I worked for a long time in a windowless basement with padded walls. We only knew of the weather outside due to callers and officers.
But my new norm is the ability to hear more than just the trauma and drama of caller after caller. Or the sarcasm dripping from officers voice on the radio. Or hearing a dispatcher complaining, valid or not, for hours on end about a plethora of problems.
I truly believe long time dispatchers gain a special sensitivity in their hearing. We develop this skill over the years, picking up small sounds in the background or the callers voice to indicate not all is what they say. Or the tone and speed of an officers cadence in asking for fill or information, telling the acute hearing skills he is stressed about something he is seeing and perhaps a fill might be a good idea, when not even asked for.
But to be able to hear the rain. Hear the wind rushing through the trees and bushes near the office door and window. Being able to hear Mother Nature playing with the elements is a special new delight. It is my new norm.
I think I could really get use to this new feature in my life.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Occupied Residental Burglary
A fear many of us women have. Being home, alone, when you hear your front door open. You know no one should be coming through that door. And yet, there is a body outline at the open door.
Took a call from a woman this evening the above horror movie making moment had happened. She was reading in bed, thought she heard a soft knock on her front door. Took her a moment or two to process, get up, put her robe on, and open her bedroom door. During that time an unknown subject opened her door. Her alarm went off. She yelled out. He yelled back, "Aw shit" and fled.
As a regular reader, you know I have a thing about calling 911 immediately, not after you have called numerous other family members and friends, and to tell me in as few words as possible what happened. And where you are. And she did! My called must be a reader.
She told me her home had just been broken into. Her address. And stopped talking so I could ask some questions. After the third question she was asking if I was going to send her help, but she kept her cool.
We were at her location in a couple minutes. One officer saw another vehicle fleeing at a high rate of speed from the general area and took chase. Ended up not being related, just a drunk driver. But as he has a history of these forms of law enforcement contacts regarding his inebriated driving habits, it was a good catch.
My caller was shaken, but okay. I told her on the phone she did a good job, quickly calling me instead of her father who insisted she install the alarm. Wish we had more callers like her.
Well, not more calls of occupied residential burglaries. Really don't need those calls for service. But having a caller who can keep their head together long enough to tell me, as an emergency call taker, what just happened, oh yeah. Makes my job so very much easier.
Took a call from a woman this evening the above horror movie making moment had happened. She was reading in bed, thought she heard a soft knock on her front door. Took her a moment or two to process, get up, put her robe on, and open her bedroom door. During that time an unknown subject opened her door. Her alarm went off. She yelled out. He yelled back, "Aw shit" and fled.
As a regular reader, you know I have a thing about calling 911 immediately, not after you have called numerous other family members and friends, and to tell me in as few words as possible what happened. And where you are. And she did! My called must be a reader.
She told me her home had just been broken into. Her address. And stopped talking so I could ask some questions. After the third question she was asking if I was going to send her help, but she kept her cool.
We were at her location in a couple minutes. One officer saw another vehicle fleeing at a high rate of speed from the general area and took chase. Ended up not being related, just a drunk driver. But as he has a history of these forms of law enforcement contacts regarding his inebriated driving habits, it was a good catch.
My caller was shaken, but okay. I told her on the phone she did a good job, quickly calling me instead of her father who insisted she install the alarm. Wish we had more callers like her.
Well, not more calls of occupied residential burglaries. Really don't need those calls for service. But having a caller who can keep their head together long enough to tell me, as an emergency call taker, what just happened, oh yeah. Makes my job so very much easier.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Happy 100
Can you believe it? This is #100 of my blogs. Took me three years of sporadic writing, but it is a goal worthy of notice.
I mean, they make a big deal when a show makes 100 episodes. So why not my blog?
Okay, now the quandry begins. What should the subject matter of this momentous occasion be? Should I reiterate something already mentioned? Or a review of the last 100 entries? A new topic to explore and discuss?
Literally, I sat for over a week trying to think of something truly worthy of this (narcissistic?) occassion. And then it was dropped into my lap, courtesy of my niece.
She has approached me for guidance and mentoring as she embarks on a path towards becoming a police officer. Say What!?!?
She has seen first hand the hardships on the person and the family through my husband. Her grandfather was a motorcycle cop for several years and has talked about the problems of being an officer. She has listened to me badmouth and cry over some of my experiences as a dispatcher.
But due to a personal experience (well, actually two) of them in her recent past (she's over 21), she feels the calling. Yes, a calling.
So I will support her and mentor where I can. Hubby is already onboard and giving her some suggestions and points to study.
A calling. Wow. Pretty heavy thought. I related it to her like what a priest or a nun must feel, they are drawn into religious service. And she said that is how it feels.
She sees herself in a position of helping. Not serving people through nursing, which her grandparents would prefer, but in public service as an officer. Still seeing people at their worst, like a nurse would, but with far fewer and far in between thank you's and smiles as an officer. In nursing she would see first hand the benefits of her care. As an officer she would hopefully get to see the benefit of her attention to detail and safety be reflected in the saving of a life.
As an officer she would be front line of witnessing people at their lowest and worst moments of their lives.
As an officer she will be watching first hand the results of poor judgement and an attitude of not caring.
As an officer she will have her decisions and actions questioned by people with no understanding of the job or by superior officers who have the benefit of making decisions with all the information later.
As an officer she will deal with being a not just a spectator of life theatre but who will also have a walk-on part with no script to follow, just working off pure instinct and training.
As an officer she will have the golden opportunity to show people there are choices in life one can make to better themselves along with their community.
As an officer she will have the sweetest of chances to touch and improve the outlook for a child who is victim of the adult in their life.
As an officer she can exemplify what is right and good in a female officer that can offer her department and community a special insight of good choices and follow through.
As an officer she can make herself and her family proud.
Go girl. Auntie got your back.
And remember to be very very good to your dispatchers. (Yes, a long lecture was delivered on this subject already.)
I mean, they make a big deal when a show makes 100 episodes. So why not my blog?
Okay, now the quandry begins. What should the subject matter of this momentous occasion be? Should I reiterate something already mentioned? Or a review of the last 100 entries? A new topic to explore and discuss?
Literally, I sat for over a week trying to think of something truly worthy of this (narcissistic?) occassion. And then it was dropped into my lap, courtesy of my niece.
She has approached me for guidance and mentoring as she embarks on a path towards becoming a police officer. Say What!?!?
She has seen first hand the hardships on the person and the family through my husband. Her grandfather was a motorcycle cop for several years and has talked about the problems of being an officer. She has listened to me badmouth and cry over some of my experiences as a dispatcher.
But due to a personal experience (well, actually two) of them in her recent past (she's over 21), she feels the calling. Yes, a calling.
So I will support her and mentor where I can. Hubby is already onboard and giving her some suggestions and points to study.
A calling. Wow. Pretty heavy thought. I related it to her like what a priest or a nun must feel, they are drawn into religious service. And she said that is how it feels.
She sees herself in a position of helping. Not serving people through nursing, which her grandparents would prefer, but in public service as an officer. Still seeing people at their worst, like a nurse would, but with far fewer and far in between thank you's and smiles as an officer. In nursing she would see first hand the benefits of her care. As an officer she would hopefully get to see the benefit of her attention to detail and safety be reflected in the saving of a life.
As an officer she would be front line of witnessing people at their lowest and worst moments of their lives.
As an officer she will be watching first hand the results of poor judgement and an attitude of not caring.
As an officer she will have her decisions and actions questioned by people with no understanding of the job or by superior officers who have the benefit of making decisions with all the information later.
As an officer she will deal with being a not just a spectator of life theatre but who will also have a walk-on part with no script to follow, just working off pure instinct and training.
As an officer she will have the golden opportunity to show people there are choices in life one can make to better themselves along with their community.
As an officer she will have the sweetest of chances to touch and improve the outlook for a child who is victim of the adult in their life.
As an officer she can exemplify what is right and good in a female officer that can offer her department and community a special insight of good choices and follow through.
As an officer she can make herself and her family proud.
Go girl. Auntie got your back.
And remember to be very very good to your dispatchers. (Yes, a long lecture was delivered on this subject already.)
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