x129K

Looks like a modern day police car....

Let me tell ya a few things about them bastard dispatchers.....I know a little bit.

First off - it sucks. But it is OK too...

It is a GOOD living, but obviously not as "fun" or "glorious" as our police, fire, and even EMS counterparts.

The BIGGEST thing I have noticied in over 15 years "in the chair" is that EVERYONE in the field thinks they could do it better, or things could be done different. Everyone in a uniform has IDEALS, but dispatchers have PROTOCOLS. For the most part the voice ont he radio doesnt make those protocol, but we are bound to adhere to them. So if you get angry or frustrated - direct that to the policy makers, not the person on the other end of the radio.

We get it from every direction...and speaking from MY job, literally everyone is our superioir...I am the #5 on my job senority wise..I been around, yet even the newest, junior cop or fireman tells me what to do...but that is part of MY job...other agencies are different..they have a more structured, Dispatch Command..we are under the authority of the Police Watch Commander and FD Shift Commander...yet there is still a small army of Sergeants, Liuetenant, Captains, Chiefs, and Deputy Chiefs that can change it all with a simple command...

EVERY shift is run different - under the direction of the Watch Commander..so if you are like me, and work OT on different shifts..you had BETTER do i tTHAT bosses way..

You guys get to SEE your jurasdiction every day - you know it intimately..hell I been working in our City for 12 years and I dont know ALOT of the streets,..Yes, I know what police post they are on, who to send, and even what fire truck is first due - but I have been "lost" on the southside of our city as recently as last week..we dont get out to see it enough, if at all. Sure maps, and CAD are nice - but there is no subsitute for actual street time. Some agencies make "ride time" a part of training - and thats awesome.

"They dont give us enough info.." Yep...true. But we give you all of what we can get from our callers - which in an urban setting like mine - sometimes is just an address...if I had a dollar for everytime a caller said - "just send the M F'ing cops/Ambulance" I could retire to the Keys with George..LOL. And if we give alot of info - we are met with "headquarters - get off the air.." There is NO happy median it seems sometimes.

Dont get me wrong - I am NOT defending all dispatchers - I have worked with some real turds...but thankfully, for the most part - we weed them out. Not all...but alot..this job is not for everyone.

I will openly admit that this is NOT what I pictured myself doing...well, it is not what I wanted to do..anyone who knows me knows I should be on a firetruck for 40 hours a week, but I do not regret it one bit. I have a good life and make good money...I can support my family well, we own a house, 2 cars, and a dog...the American Dream, right? I am heads and shoulders above where my parents where at my age. I stay cool in the summer, warm in the winter, park in a secure parking agarge, and can surf Bravo for 8 hours a day. For that I am very thankful.

One of the things I cherish the most about my job is RESPECT. The guys on the other side of the radio - be it police or fire, appreciate me and the job I do..I take care of "my guys"..they know when the crap hits the fan in a foot pursuit that I am right there with them, and help is on the way. I know how the FD operates and usually have what the Captain requests done or ready to be done. I do my job well, because lives of cops and firemen depend on it. I have actually been written up for two commendations by Fire Lieutenants after tough, hectic, SCARY jobs for my actions in assisting them...both times they were denied because, "he is just a dispatcher...". Who cares....it's the RESPECT from those guys that mean more to me than ANY peice of paper signed by the Mayor.

So yeah, dispatching sucks..but it pays the bills. And I know that there are a few guys out there that know we really DO make a difference. So cut us some slack...or take the test and get "in the chair."

More info on hunting incident;

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2012/November/20/Evans_hunting_fatal-20Nov12.htm

X129: I know you have a face for radio, but maybe you could try to sound a a little sexier on the air- could lead to job security.

I hope not. I have 18 years to go to retire with 30 years "in the chair".

I alwys wore Dickies...especially once they came out with the "cell phone pocket" pant...but they arent BDU style.

I am more of a tradional style uniform, straight leg navy blue pants, light blue button down shirt with epaluts..not a fan of all the fancy ESU cop lookalike stuff they got going on now...

Yet another embattled department in the same town/city area doing extraordinary work with minimal to barely there manpower. No matter how bad the journal and the vocal minority try to cut us down we always get the job done. Nice job guys.

And had AFD's reported basement fire been an actual J O B, things would have gotten very interesting last night.

Correct sir!

Well as many have said on the Book of Face, outstanding job. With such dangerous manpower levels, it is NO joke effecting rescues before a hoseline could even think about being put into service. Bravo.

And the Snow Terrace run = Even better than the rescues IMHO.

With only 4 guys on shift.......if i am not mistaken.

Situations such as this make me shake my head at the mindset of my Union Brothers.........

'NOW WE COOKING WITH PEANUT OIL!"

I hate that this site has become a "cut and paste" of links to newspaper articles.

Sure, we all check the local rags to see who has been to J O B S and stories associated with emergency services, so we all see them most of the time anyways...but what happened to actual e-conversations?

And where the F is George!?

"Just drop it off".....................you're doing it wrong!

Hey, I am ALL FOR helping out, beleive me - it's Brotherhood at it best, but let's be honest...if you have time to "update your status" every few minutes...or "check in" on Facebook...well then maybe your time could be better actually used helping your Brothers.

And I think we all know my opinion on picture taking...I am a picture buff from wayyyy back when...but there IS a time and a place.

I enjoyed pictures like Danger posted...shows the conditions members had to deal with..

Dont read too deep into what i posted...I was "just sayin'"....in fact, I spent some time questioning myself as maybe I am being hyper-critical of the situation...but I was proven right again today..so I stand by my statement.

From what I heard a few NYC 911 calls even made it up to Dutchess due to the heavy volume

A City of Poughkeepsie call taker handled a call for NYC, but I am not sure where the call originated from.

Maybe it's just me, but looking at different media sources, mostly social media, it appears that some covering companies are using their time "down south" as more of a photo op than anything else...

I know a few of the very first guys who went down without hesitation, and their hearts were truly in it...but some others I see really make me shake my head..

Again, maybe it's just me...

*edit.

I was not referring to any of the pics posted here...FYI.

"Driver soone thereafter recieved an a** whooping to remember..."

NO GAS from Westchester to DOVER PLAINS in Dutchess County per friends who commute.

FIGHTS in every gas station in Poughkeepsie since MY tour started.

NOOoooooooo.....no crisis here..LOL

and what about volunteers in emergency services who are in their POVs? :/

Big One..

Cant see an over abundance of guys burning their own fuel for a "routine" alarm.

Kurt - is there anything that your co-worker needs specifically?...I am sure, like me, alot of guys here have excess "stuff"...

I hear Wassaic is sending BIG BLUE down tommorow. (69-31, a tanker)

Great pics!

Nice work by the 2393 and 596......could have been bad, very easily.

Is anyone following the Facebook page FDNY Brotherhood Foundation?

E268 operating alone at mutiple dwellings fully involved with confirmed people trapped - members took off bunker gear and SWAN into the building, effected rescues. The buildings were left to burn as no additional companies were available/could make it?

C R A Z Y stuff.

This is no joke,...damn.

ARC shelters in Dutchess;

Beacon High School

Red Hook High School