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Why do dispatchers ask all of those questions?
The St. Rita’s Campus Police department operates a 24 hour a day Dispatch Center with seven full time dispatchers. The new dispatch center opened in April 2007.
Dispatchers perform a wide range of services. They operate a variety of communications equipment and retrieve information from a variety of computer systems. They maintain records and logs of all radio transmissions, telephone calls and other records and files of related database systems. The dispatchers monitor direct emergency telephone calls besides the non emergency calls for assistance. The dispatchers are responsible for monitoring alarms. The dispatch center is where employees get parking decals and access badges.
Have you ever called to report an emergency situation and wonder why the dispatcher is asking so many questions? When you are involved in an emergency situation you want to know that an officer is coming to your location quickly. However, it is helpful to the officer(s) that are responding to know what kind of emergency is occurring or that did occur. The communication that you have with the dispatcher could be vital.
What information should you be ready to report when calling for help?
1.Where – what is your location?
Where – what is your location?2.What - what is happening?
What - what is happening?3.When – is this happening now?
When – is this happening now?4.Who – who is the victim, suspect, etc.?
Who – who is the victim, suspect, etc.?5.Why – do you know why this is happening?
Why – do you know why this is happening?Here is an example of effective communication:
On January 13, 2008 an employee reported two suspicious people in the 830 building. A detailed description and location was given to dispatch. As officers were headed to the building the two people described was observed on the first floor. Both people were identified and verbally trespassed.
During the early hours of January 23, 2008 an employee reported a male attempting to enter the medical center by the cafeteria exterior door. Upon the officer’s arrival the male was not located. A short time later another employee reported a suspicious male running from the parking garage. The male was located by officers. The subject gave a false name to the investigating officers. However, with further conversation the subject’s correct name was found. The subject turned out to be one of the people that were trespassed previously. Furthermore, after office staff started arriving to work that morning calls came in reporting that someone had been in their suites and removed petty cash and other small items. The investigation continued. Fingerprints were lifted. The suspicious male that had been spotted on campus numerous times and reported by employees is now facing four counts of breaking and entering. Thanks to teamwork!
Meet our Dispatchers
Rhonda G. Mowery (Dispatch Team Leader)
(419) 226-9678 ext. 3228
Dispatcher Rhonda Mowery has been an employee of SRMC since November of 2000. Prior to coming to the Campus Police Department she worked in the following departments: Nutrition Services, Medical Records and Communications. She received a Certificate of Completion for Incident Command having completed courses 100,200, 700, & 800. Her other interests include yearly missions trips to Hungary & Romania & spending time with her family. She has four children and five grandchildren.
Jerry L. Clark
(419) 226-9678 ext. 3063
Dispatcher Clark came to SRMC in 1982. He has worked as a security technician for six of the seven chief’s in the Campus Police Department. Prior employment after graduating from Shawnee High School was at Clark Equipment nearly 14 years. He worked eight years as a union steward for six different areas before the plant closed in 1981. Dispatcher Clark hopes to retire to Cold Water Lake Michigan with his wife and dog Molly. He enjoys swimming and fishing.
Julie M. Ritchie
(419) 226-9678 ext. 3225
Dispatcher Julie Ritchie joined the Campus Police Department in April 2007 after working in various departments throughout the hospital including Behavioral Services and Communications. She is currently pursuing a degree in Nursing. She enjoys outdoor activities, performing arts, and spending time with her brothers who are serving in the military.
Janet Meeker
(419) 226-9678 ext. 3277
Dispatcher Meeker is a 1984 graduate of Lima Senior High. Shortly after graduation, she joined the United States Air Force and later transferred into the Air National Guard. She has held various jobs over the years from library clerk to pre-school teacher as well a 9-1-1 Operator/Police Dispatcher for the City of Lima Police Department. Dispatcher Meeker and her husband have been married for 24 years and are blessed to have two terrific children, ages 20 and 17. She hired in at SRMC in July 2009 and was fortunate enough to be afforded the opportunity to once again secure a position in a field of employment that she truly enjoys…dispatching. In her spare time she enjoys writing short stories, shopping with her daughter (though she never admits to her that she likes to shop), reading and just spending time with her family.
Judy B. Wright
(419) 226-9678 ext. 3066
Dispatcher Wright was employed at St. Rita’s Medical Center in 1987. She has worked in the campus police department as an officer, the department’s secretary and a dispatcher. She also has worked in the Human Resource department. She was the fourth female correctional officer hired into Lima Correctional Institute in the 1980’s. While pursuing a degree in Corrections at Lima Technical College she was on the Dean’s List. She graduated with a certified police officer certificate from Ohio Peace Officer’s Training in 1990. She previously worked plant security at Vistron. Her hobbies include spending time with grandchildren and going to garage sales.
Deborah J. Wood
(419) 226-9678 ext. 3229
Dispatcher Deborah J. Wood has been with the SRMC Police Department since May 2007 and works casual pool. She came to SRMC with 15 years of dispatching experience, dispatching for Bluffton Police Department, Bluffton Fire and Rescue, Beaverdam Fire and Rescue and Allen County Sheriff's Office. Deb has an EMT-B certification with the Lafayette Jackson Fire Department and has been an active member for the last 14 years where she is also a certified CPR instructor. Deb has completed her Crisis Intervention Team CIT, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Severe Weather Watch and Incident Command Courses. She has three children and two grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoys outdoor activities, volunteering and spending time with her family.
Jessica Paton
(419) 226-9378 ext. 3074
Dispatcher Jessica Paton is a graduate of The Ohio State University in Art with a focus on Painting and Drawing. She has been working at St. Rita’s for three years and has recently been hired as a SRMC PD dispatcher this September 2011. Jessica is also a nationally certified member of The National Academies of Emergency Dispatch. She is also attending classes to be a certified EMT.
