Kate Traci 10/09 The screams came through my headset as I punched on the line. I winced as my eardrum was pummeled by the pandemonium on the other end of the line. I had to get busy. No time to reach over to my radio console and turn down the headset volume. I needed both hands typing fast.  The room was quiet. Call volume is low at 3:30 in the morning. Most in the greater Sacramento area are snug in their beds. My coworkers could hear the echos of the yells as they reverberated out of my... katetraci sgtmom911 comment-17517 2009-11-09T18:57:28Z 2009-11-09T18:57:28Z That was a great article, Traci. I am also a dispatcher up in Seaside, Oregon, albeit a MUCH smaller community! My end of the county serves MAYBE 10,000 customers but up to 100,000 for certain events (like the Hood to Coast relay) in August. At our dispatch center (there are 2 in our county), we have 7 dispatchers (if we are fully staffed - we also have a moderate turnover rate). We transfer medical calls to a contracted ambulance service, but still have to be EMD qualified, just in case they are backlogged, etc. We are calltakers and dispatch 3 police agencies and 4 volunteer fire depts, and often do all these tasks solo. Of course, we don't have the same volume of calls, but usually enough to keep us busy! (It's amazing what some people will call the police dept for!) What I wanted to comment about is Next Generation 911 - the probability of getting text-911 and streaming video 911 calls in the very near future. The technology is out there - we already receive TTY/TDD calls, which is similar to Instant or Text Messaging, and we can chat on computers using webcams, etc. It is hard enough to calm a hysterical caller, without being on-scene. However, I look at these calls with a "detached" view - I can only visualize the scene. I think that's what makes it, for lack of a better word, "easier" to calm the callers. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to see in REAL TIME the horrific motor vehicle accidents or shootings or any other type of violence, and be expected to do my job effectively. I think if I could handle being exposed to that, I would be a paramedic or ER nurse or whatever and at least get paid more! How would dispatchers (Traci and the dispatcher in Rhonda Erwin's comment) have handled the calls had they been in real time video? I wonder if there will be additional training or higher pay when this technology comes down? sgtmom911 2009-11-09T18:57:28Z encuentro comment-17204 2009-11-04T06:24:32Z 2009-11-04T06:24:32Z great piece focus in a very important moment of the life of all of us. I would love to know more about 911 dispatchers in SAC. encuentro 2009-11-04T06:24:32Z bilbobaggins comment-17196 2009-11-04T02:23:53Z 2009-11-04T02:23:53Z Thank you for the article and the great job you do! This article was an eye opening experience. To read it from a Dispatchers point of view about what happens in the world was definitely interesting. Most people are too concerned for themselves to even care about others and it is refreshing to read about the great work one dispatcher is doing here in Sacramento County. I have heard that people call 911 just to curse obscenities at dispatchers and say nasty evil things about them and to them. It is unfortunate that there are such evil people in the world, but I apprceciate the fact that people like you are there on the front line doing a heroic job, even though the public never takes the time to say thank you like they do for firefighters or police officers. Dispatching is a thankless job. However, I think Dispatchers do a great job and are not recognized enough for it. Wonderful Article - I hope to see more published from this writer. I think this article is written in a talented and educational manner and more articles need to be published regarding this subject. This is a subject that many know absolutely nothing about, yet more need tobe educated about it. bilbobaggins 2009-11-04T02:23:53Z Casey Kirk comment-17073 2009-11-03T00:15:57Z 2009-11-03T00:15:57Z Thank you for a great article! I would love to hear more about your job in some follow-up pieces. I rode along with the Oak Park Fire Dept for 24 hours and it's cool to hear yet another angle of life-saving. Casey Kirk 2009-11-03T00:15:57Z Pinelli comment-17049 2009-11-02T18:18:37Z 2009-11-02T18:18:37Z Thank you Ms. Traci for a well-written and heartfelt article--nice work. Pinelli 2009-11-02T18:18:37Z Pinelli comment-17046 2009-11-02T18:16:15Z 2009-11-02T18:16:15Z So, why does "God's grace" let people get hurt in the first place? Why does "God's" ambulance service charge me 100s of dollars to transport me to the hospital? Pinelli 2009-11-02T18:16:15Z Me911taz comment-17001 2009-11-02T08:14:24Z 2009-11-02T08:14:24Z Ronda, I work with Kate. You have nothing to apologize for! You are pointing out what you have heard and read. It is unfortunate that it is true in our scoiety that our 'heros' say the things you stated above. I've heard them and been with them when they have. Please understand, that for the most part it is just the way they 'vent' out their stress. Their is no excuse to treat someone as less than a human tho. Me911taz 2009-11-02T08:14:24Z Rhonda Erwin comment-16868 2009-10-31T08:15:04Z 2009-10-31T08:15:04Z I apologize if my comment is offensive. It just brought back so many painful memories, discussions.... I do appreciate the work of 911 dispatchers, officers, firefighters and community members.... I guess, I could have just quoted Dr King, "We are all woven from the same garment what affects one of us directly affects all of us indirectly" and as our mayor develops an Arco arena task force, as we have a Charter Review Committee .... perhaps since so many others are indirectly affected by the plight of those experiencing violence, homelessness, drugs... perhaps our mayor will develop a task force, review committee to prevent more from experiencing pain either directly or indirectly. Again I apologize. Rhonda Erwin 2009-10-31T08:15:04Z Rhonda Erwin comment-16865 2009-10-31T07:57:14Z 2009-10-31T07:57:14Z Very nice article. I recall reading a story in the SacBee I guess about a year or so ago where a reporter wrote of how violence affects everyone and told the story of paramedic having to also view gruesome deaths as a result of violence. It is overwhelmingly concerning that so many people are affected either directly or indirectly by violence and in this case 911 dispatchers having to also hear the cries, screams of community members needing the services the city is expected to provide. I've spoken with a person who is also a dispatcher whose nephew was also a murder victim in Sacramento and it is a difficult job and my heart goes out to you and everyone having to hear, see, know of pain, anguish, suffering whether it is self-inflicted or not. I recall reading an article on the SacBee regarding law enforcement during budget times and an officer wrote-- with distaste- of "going to the ghetto" to take calls and also "helping everyone". (And in no way am I suggesting all officers carry this distaste) When I got to the end of the article and I read the line "The fire department helps everyone." my heart dropped. I mean no disrespect but the service is "for everyone" . I recall reading comments regarding the homeless on a SacBee article where someone wrote why should we help them....? I recall talking to a mother whose son left the house and was shot. She heard the shots inside her home. But knew her straight A student / son was not shot... Later she grew concerned when he did not come home and she received a call from the hospital. Her son had laid on the ground bleeding afraid the shooter would finish the job and kill him. Officers arrived and began questioning him "What set do you belong to?" 'What gang are you in?" The boy says he kept crying out "help me I'm not in a gang...." The boy was scared and when the paramedics cut his pants he begged for something to cover his groin area and an officer replied, "What, are you afraid of someone seeing your small ding dong?" The officer stated, "we're trying to help you, we help everyone" The mother was outraged when her son told her how he was shot by someone and then felt verbally assaulted by an officer. The boy not identified a gang member, no gang ties left his home to go to the store for his mother. I heard the mother tell the story again as she testified in church of how by the grace of God her son is alive. I guess what I am trying to say is I am glad people are not allowed to discriminate on who receives services because one call, one arrival to an emergency scene does not give someone complete inight into the love or life or change of life that person could have. God saved the boy. God allowed the man trying to fill the lighter to live. Gods help --in the city of "Sacrament" is often not praised or seen or rewarded by so many. By the grace of God we-- those needing the services are not made to feel guilty for needing the service that God will provide us- guilt-free service. Again this is a very nice article and I mean no disrespect by going beyond the career chosen. The children deserves/ deserved far better than to be in a home with drugs and drug use. But only God knows what will become of the man whose life was saved. And the fire department could have very well assisted with saving the life of a man who God has greater plans for. Rhonda Erwin 2009-10-31T07:57:14Z