Update on my rant yesterday...
Apparently things can actually get worse. The new part-timer quit yesterday after deciding that the hours she agreed to work just wouldn't work for her.
So, now we're down to simply having two full time dispatchers to try and cover three shifts seven days a week. Needless to say the firefighters aren't happy. :)
Yay!
I actually think I'm getting delirious from lack of sleep. I'm not entirely sure what day it is, and had to ask one of the guys how many hours I worked three days ago since I couldn't remember.
I think it can only go up from here...unless something happens to me or the other guy which shouldn't (fingers crossed).
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Some weeks, I think it's better to just stay in bed.
So, we've hired a part time dispatcher and had a fulltime quit - both in the same week. I think that working straight isn't hard at all, the training is what's kicking my butt right now.
I like to think of myself as fairly easygoing, but holy cows, she's a little highstrung for my taste. :)
And I think the stress is starting to get to me, so I'm going to try to catch some sleep and get back in the gym.
So, we've hired a part time dispatcher and had a fulltime quit - both in the same week. I think that working straight isn't hard at all, the training is what's kicking my butt right now.
I like to think of myself as fairly easygoing, but holy cows, she's a little highstrung for my taste. :)
And I think the stress is starting to get to me, so I'm going to try to catch some sleep and get back in the gym.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Well, let's see. This Friday has been uncannily like last Friday ... with one exception. As a dispatcher, I'm used to talking to people who are generally unhappy to say the least, and most of the time I just blow it off, gripe a little bit and move on.
Tonight, I actually got pretty much pissed off while dealing with a caller. Received a call per an ex bf who had taken his ex's cell phone. He wound up repeatedly calling the station, ranting because the officers hadn't arrested her for public intox.
He kept ranting that the only reason she hadn't been arrested was because she was a female, had a p***, was a whore and traded sexual favors. In total I probably talked to him 7-8 times, trying to convince him to speak with an officer (which he probably would have been arrested because he had been drinking substantially as well. He started ranting again and maybe I shouldn't have, but I interrupted him because I'd had enough.
I told him in no uncertain terms that I was trying to help him, he had no business talking to me that way, and that he was offending me. lol
Surprisingly, he stopped and apologized. Granted, he was still being a royal ass but he stopped talking to me like I was his freaking whore or something.
He pretty much lied to me the entire time I was on the phone with him and didn't help his cause whatsoever, so who knows what will become of it all.
:)
Oh well, tonight was also home game night, so I got to put on my monkey suit and go play for a couple of hours. It was fun, I've been giving the Chief a hard time about getting one of our more "reserved" reserves into some trouble and I at least succeeded in getting him more active and involved with dealing with people tonight, so it was fun.
I'm working a 12 today because I really don't feel like getting back in uniform and working traffic later this morning after I get out of dispatch, so my relief is going to go play traffic cop and I'm just going to kick back in my chair :)
Finally,
Tonight, I actually got pretty much pissed off while dealing with a caller. Received a call per an ex bf who had taken his ex's cell phone. He wound up repeatedly calling the station, ranting because the officers hadn't arrested her for public intox.
He kept ranting that the only reason she hadn't been arrested was because she was a female, had a p***, was a whore and traded sexual favors. In total I probably talked to him 7-8 times, trying to convince him to speak with an officer (which he probably would have been arrested because he had been drinking substantially as well. He started ranting again and maybe I shouldn't have, but I interrupted him because I'd had enough.
I told him in no uncertain terms that I was trying to help him, he had no business talking to me that way, and that he was offending me. lol
Surprisingly, he stopped and apologized. Granted, he was still being a royal ass but he stopped talking to me like I was his freaking whore or something.
He pretty much lied to me the entire time I was on the phone with him and didn't help his cause whatsoever, so who knows what will become of it all.
:)
Oh well, tonight was also home game night, so I got to put on my monkey suit and go play for a couple of hours. It was fun, I've been giving the Chief a hard time about getting one of our more "reserved" reserves into some trouble and I at least succeeded in getting him more active and involved with dealing with people tonight, so it was fun.
I'm working a 12 today because I really don't feel like getting back in uniform and working traffic later this morning after I get out of dispatch, so my relief is going to go play traffic cop and I'm just going to kick back in my chair :)
Finally,
Saturday, September 11, 2010
I have to say that I really like having three guys on my shift :))
Tonight has been a blast, at one point I had six officers out on the street. My new guy fits in great with the two original officers and has figured out how nice and easygoing I am (which translates easy to pick on I guess lol)
We haven't had a problem with calls stacking tonight, just being steady and the guys out finding things to do.
We ended last shift with an unattended death, my first to work behind the radio and it never fails to floor me that I'm handling the details of the death of someone's loved one. Doesn't bother me, just tends to stay with me and I use it to help when the next one roles around.
Tonight has been a blast, at one point I had six officers out on the street. My new guy fits in great with the two original officers and has figured out how nice and easygoing I am (which translates easy to pick on I guess lol)
We haven't had a problem with calls stacking tonight, just being steady and the guys out finding things to do.
We ended last shift with an unattended death, my first to work behind the radio and it never fails to floor me that I'm handling the details of the death of someone's loved one. Doesn't bother me, just tends to stay with me and I use it to help when the next one roles around.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
I have to say that Monday night was really a lot of fun. I'm glad none of the guys know about this blog, because they might be tempted to shoot me. I went and rode on the hoot shift, and as we were leaving the station I jokingly told my officer, "let's go get into some trouble..just kidding". Yeah I know, never say stuff like that because you will get into something.
Abt 15 minutes later we're dispatched to a SVA, turns out the guy is impaired and all that fun stuff. So, I received a crash course in DUI arrests and learned about the joys of having to wait in the ER while he's medically cleared.
After 2.5 hours of waiting and listening to his dumb ass complain that there needs to be a stop sign at the highway intersection (which there is) we finally get him to the county jail. At 415 we make it back to the station where we get to plow through the mess of paperwork which awaits us...finished up about 6 so I decided to cat out about 630 to get some sleep... this whole school thing really puts a cramp in my style for sure.
The point of this is, I think I'm addicted to being a cop. Don't mind the paperwork, don't mind the waiting, just enjoy being able to do something I find both enjoyable and worthwhile. Sorta like dispatching...have to say though, it's a letdown having to be stuck in here while the action is going on outside :)
Abt 15 minutes later we're dispatched to a SVA, turns out the guy is impaired and all that fun stuff. So, I received a crash course in DUI arrests and learned about the joys of having to wait in the ER while he's medically cleared.
After 2.5 hours of waiting and listening to his dumb ass complain that there needs to be a stop sign at the highway intersection (which there is) we finally get him to the county jail. At 415 we make it back to the station where we get to plow through the mess of paperwork which awaits us...finished up about 6 so I decided to cat out about 630 to get some sleep... this whole school thing really puts a cramp in my style for sure.
The point of this is, I think I'm addicted to being a cop. Don't mind the paperwork, don't mind the waiting, just enjoy being able to do something I find both enjoyable and worthwhile. Sorta like dispatching...have to say though, it's a letdown having to be stuck in here while the action is going on outside :)
Monday, September 6, 2010
Oh thank God it's Friday for me.. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, since it's also Labor Day which means no school and no work :)
Well, I was a dork and bought another gun last week. I've been wanting a .380 for a while, and finally broke down and bought one. It's definitely the smallest gun I've ever owned, fits in my pocket perfectly :)
All I have to do is slide it into my jeans pocket and I'm good to go. It's a Diamondback and is basically a miniature Glock, breaks down the same way, long trigger pull safety and etc. It's pretty awesome :) and I'm a dork.
So, I've been having a little drama in my personal life, nothing new there, I guess. I recently posted about my feelings for a co-worker, and nooow it's all weird. :)
I've decided to just move away, do my damndest to keep from going to his shift and have fun. Yeah, you could say I took a chance and it didn't work out, but I knew the risks so it's just whatever, you know? :)
I'm ok with it and am just ready for my newest guy to get on shift, hopefully he'll livin up the shift :) I can only hope!
Well, I was a dork and bought another gun last week. I've been wanting a .380 for a while, and finally broke down and bought one. It's definitely the smallest gun I've ever owned, fits in my pocket perfectly :)
All I have to do is slide it into my jeans pocket and I'm good to go. It's a Diamondback and is basically a miniature Glock, breaks down the same way, long trigger pull safety and etc. It's pretty awesome :) and I'm a dork.
So, I've been having a little drama in my personal life, nothing new there, I guess. I recently posted about my feelings for a co-worker, and nooow it's all weird. :)
I've decided to just move away, do my damndest to keep from going to his shift and have fun. Yeah, you could say I took a chance and it didn't work out, but I knew the risks so it's just whatever, you know? :)
I'm ok with it and am just ready for my newest guy to get on shift, hopefully he'll livin up the shift :) I can only hope!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
I'm very sorry for that really goofy update from Monday :)
At that point I was about 10 minutes away from participating in an interactive "Shoot - Don't Shoot" exercise and I was in slight panic mode. I have to say that it was quite possibly the most amazing experience I've had since I've been an officer. It opened up an entire can of worms for me :), now I see the holes in my abilities and the lack of training I have, I've been fortunate to be able to ride and participate, but there is so much to be said for having the knowledge and the skills to be comfortable while I'm out on the streets.
It's a far cry from my padded dispatch chair, let me tell you. The system that we used was the MILO system, don't ask me to tell you what that stands for, but it is essentially one giant first person video game that has the ability to change depending on how you react, whether you give verbal commands or simply shoot. Some of the scenarios included traffic stops, home invasions, convenience store burglaries and active shooter calls, including an officer down scenario.
It was a huge eye-opener, because the moment I put my gun on everytime I ride these thoughts go through my head, what will I do if I have to use my weapon? What am I going to do if I have to restrain a suspect? I've been shown some stuff, but the amount of actual training I've had is very limited.
The readers who have spouses in LE, be grateful for the training they have, because it will save their lives if ever its necessary, the saying train like you work, definitely isn't something to take lightly. It's not something to take for granted, either. I'm anxiously awaiting the chance to get into academy, so that I have all the training to ensure that I come home every night.
Stay sage out there :)
At that point I was about 10 minutes away from participating in an interactive "Shoot - Don't Shoot" exercise and I was in slight panic mode. I have to say that it was quite possibly the most amazing experience I've had since I've been an officer. It opened up an entire can of worms for me :), now I see the holes in my abilities and the lack of training I have, I've been fortunate to be able to ride and participate, but there is so much to be said for having the knowledge and the skills to be comfortable while I'm out on the streets.
It's a far cry from my padded dispatch chair, let me tell you. The system that we used was the MILO system, don't ask me to tell you what that stands for, but it is essentially one giant first person video game that has the ability to change depending on how you react, whether you give verbal commands or simply shoot. Some of the scenarios included traffic stops, home invasions, convenience store burglaries and active shooter calls, including an officer down scenario.
It was a huge eye-opener, because the moment I put my gun on everytime I ride these thoughts go through my head, what will I do if I have to use my weapon? What am I going to do if I have to restrain a suspect? I've been shown some stuff, but the amount of actual training I've had is very limited.
The readers who have spouses in LE, be grateful for the training they have, because it will save their lives if ever its necessary, the saying train like you work, definitely isn't something to take lightly. It's not something to take for granted, either. I'm anxiously awaiting the chance to get into academy, so that I have all the training to ensure that I come home every night.
Stay sage out there :)
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