Work Stuff

Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key

About my job as a Public Safety Communications Dispatcher

I work at the Portland , Oregon Bureau for Emergency Communications (B.O.E.C.), better known as 911. I dispatch the Portland Police Bureau, Gresham Police, Troutdale Police, Fairview Police, Multnomah County Sheriff's Department, Portland Fire Bureau , and Emergency Medical Services for the entire region of Multnomah County. Along with Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (W.C.C.C.A) , Clackamas County Communicatons (CCOM), and Clark Regional Communications Agency (CRCA), in Vancouver, Washington, we make up the emergency communications link to the people of the Portland Metro area.

I love my job helping the public. My only wish is the public knew a little more about how to use 911. Here is a reminder for all of us how to properly use 911 to get the fastest help to an emergency situation by giving the person answering the call all the necessary information. I know sometimes it seems as if we ask too many questions, especially in a high stress situation, but the questions really are necessary for us to best assess the situation before emergency responders arrive on the scene.

I am a member of my Safety committee. When the new communications center was built in 1994, the safety committee helped create the very first fully ergonomic dispatch center. As a member of the safety committee, it is my duty to keep up on all the latest OSHA regulations and new from assorted agencies, like the CDC , FEMA , and the American Red Cross . I am also a union shop steward for my local AFSCME 189 chapter K. This means I also need to be up on my law resources and knowledge of the ADA and other legislation . As you can imagine, working at an emergency communications center isn't always like they show on Rescue 911 . However, I do work with the dispatcher whose voice ends the T.V. show "COPS". That is pretty cool.

What's left of my spare time, I am the volunteer director for the State of Oregon Chapter of The North American Center For Emergency Communications, Inc. We are always looking for more volunteers.

Click
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We were featured November 25th, 1996 through December 9, 1996 on

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