Future of This Blog

Since I am so good about updating this blog - NOT - I have decided to discontinue updating here.

Instead I am going to refer you to my Twitter feed (on right) and to my 911 related podcast at Batwing's Beat. At that site you'll find a player to listen to the podcasts and RSS subscription links.

The first part of each podcast is slice-of-life stuff that interests me and the latter part of each podcast is 911 news and 911 audio tapes. Please note that the podcast is on a slight hiatus until the end of this month when I will be recording regularly once again.

I will be leaving this site up for the Amber Alert ticker and the 911 News links.

Death in the Family

We buried one of our dispatchers today. No, ours is not the center in Colorado that also lost a dispatcher over the weekend. They had a 28 year veteran, Cindy Cline, pass away after a short illness.
Our gal was only 21 years old and had only been dispatching for a few months. She was learning really well and I think she would have been one of those long term career dispatchers. She had heart problems, but didn't let that stop or slow her down.

On this occassion I naturally reflected on the law enforcement people who have died during my 18 years at dispatch. The death of our dispatcher makes 5.
I had a state trooper who was a helicopter pilot crash after aiding the search for a lost child in the mountains.
The next was a police chief who was shot and killed responding to a domestic violence incident outside a convenience store.
After that we had an officer who was having some marital problems and committed suicide.
Then a couple of years ago an officer was riding in a helicopter when it crashed.
Finally, our fellow dispatcher.

I don't know if you can say there is anything good about events like this, but there is nothing quite as awesome as a funeral with law enforcement.

The Sky Is Falling

It should be. After all, I am blogging again today.

So, how's the recession affecting your center? Here we have been understaffed for several years and the recession has actually helped in our recruiting efforts. The last time we announced an opening we got almost 100 applicants! The usual is around 10-15 with only 2-3 following through and none passing the process.

Out of that recent bunch 17 actually showed up for the testing in the next step in the process. I would imagine under 10 of those will pass. But then comes the oral interview board followed by an extensive background check. By that time I would be surprised if 2 actually complete the process. Then they will begin a one year probation/training period. And over the years I have seen at least 6 people fail during that time.

But the recession has a lot more people scrambling for the few jobs that are available.

Just Repeating a Story

Gotta admire the man for being honest.

Florida 's got it right. Bravo for Sheriff Judd !!!

Some 'dirtbag' in Polk County Florida who got pulled over in a routine traffic stop ended up 'executing' the deputy who stopped him. The deputy was shot eight times, including once behind his right ear at close range. Another deputy was wounded and a police dog killed. A state wide manhunt ensued.

The low-life was found hiding in a wooded area with his gun. SWAT team officers fired and hit the guy 68 times.

Now here's the kicker:

Naturally, the media asked why they shot him 68 times. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, told theOrlando Sentinel: 'That's all the bullets we had !!' (Talk about an all-time classic answer !!!)

Justice Served. Bullets are much cheaper than 40 years of meals, cable TV, appeals and civil rights. And it made another cell available!

Crime and Punishment

We had an incident the other night that brought me back to a thought I often have -

The punishment should be fit the crime.

What prompted this was a call about an assault with a baseball bat. So, I'm thinking that, if convicted, the guy who did it should have to suffer the same type of injury.

And there was that story about the man who ran his truck off the road and told his small children to just walk to grandma's house in the snow. It was 11 miles. The little girl died. If convicted, I say make him walk 11 miles in the snow and see what happens.

I also think that if someone is arrested for drunk driving (and convicted) their vehicle should be seized; not just impounded. And when it comes up for sale at a police auction the driver can't buy it back. Of course this wouldn't work when it involves a company truck. But if the company is smart they won't let the offender drive their vehicles any longer.

Let's remember, folks, more cars kill people every year than guns.

Uniform SHopping

I'm doing a little online shopping for some new uniform pants. I found some at one site that looked good. But in the list of features is the following line:

Exclusive Triple-Stitched Crotch prevents blowouts

Uh......okay.

So True

This graphic sums it up nicely - click to enlarge

End of Year

I was thinking of what to post for a end of the year review. It seems like a lot has transpired over the past 12 months. We have lost 5 dispatchers due to various reasons – marriage, moving, better offer, and one was let go before finishing her probationary time.
But we have a couple of new ones onboard. It doesn’t even out, but it’s manageable (as long as no one calls in sick).

This holiday season has seen more suicides than usual and several traffic related fatalities. At this point I’m not sure if the traffic deaths are up or down from last year. Hopefully down.

You know, trying to come up with something interesting for an entry like this isn’t that easy. It’s kind of like this – after dispatching for some time you go home and your significant other asks what happened at work. You reply, “Nothing. Just the usual.” When in fact the whole world almost ended. But that’s a normal uneventful day in dispatch.

So, here’s hoping the new year finds you safe and well. My resolution is to attempt to blog more in 2009.