Editor, The Spotlight:
Recent local news articles reported on an early budget presentation by the Bethlehem Supervisor and Comptroller, indicating that the town will face a $3.5 million budget gap in 2013. Beginning next month, specific cuts will be put on the table at board meetings. Among the services being examined for possible cuts are police and ambulance. One article stated that consolidation of dispatch services is also being discussed.
We are the dispatchers of the Bethlehem Police Department. During 2011 we handled approximately 50,000 calls. During our shifts we live minute to minute; we never know what the next phone call will bring; a routine shift can become chaotic in a matter of seconds with one phone call. In our world, a minute can mean the difference between life and death; seconds really do count!
Until recently, our Communications Department was fully staffed at 12 dispatchers and a communications supervisor. There are now two vacancies which have not been filled – our supervisor position and one telecommunicator position; this means that six nights a week from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. our communications center is manned by only two dispatchers.
Normally each eight-hour shift is staffed by three dispatchers – call taker, fire/EMS dispatch and police dispatch. The Communications Department operates most efficiently when each console is manned. All 911 calls and incoming police lines come through our call taker console. Every fire call, ambulance call and police call is dispatched through our communications center. Dispatchers are also responsible for daily paperwork, handling the public window, paperwork for officers’ arrests and other duties. During each eight-hour shift dispatchers must leave the room to use the facilities, distribute paperwork, and perform other necessary duties. If only two dispatchers are working on a shift and one dispatcher leaves the room, only one person is left in the room to monitor and respond to multiple radio transmissions and phone lines, handle the public window and to dispatch all calls quickly and efficiently.
Also, dispatchers must stay on the line with callers for certain EMS calls, domestic calls, fights and other calls which require us to stay in communication with the caller. If there are only two dispatchers on a shift and one must leave the room or remain on the line with a caller, the safety of both police officers and the public may be compromised. What if you had an emergency and there was only one dispatcher in the room?
Our Union Local 3443 is a group of well trained, capable dispatchers. We take pride in our jobs.
We are able to work most safely and efficiently when three dispatchers are working on each shift. Our work requires immediate response; every phone call needs to be answered, evaluated and dispatched correctly; every radio transmission needs to be heard and acknowledged; it can mean the difference between life and death!
We need our vacancies filled; we need our minimum staffing level of three on all shifts. This is for the safety of the public, our police officers and all other emergency responders in this town.
Consolidation of dispatch services with Albany County dispatch, which is located in Voorheesville, is also an issue which will strongly impact Bethlehem residents. The dispatchers currently working in our communications center have a combined total of approximately 140 years of experience in the Town of Bethlehem Police Department. Several are Bethlehem residents. Our communications center is located in the Police Department, giving us direct access to the police officers and administration on a daily basis. We have worked closely through the years with residents and fire and EMS personnel. We are aware of many special needs and circumstances and can provide important information to responders. The safety of our residents is of personal concern to us, because we know many of you as neighbors and friends.
At times we hold your lives in our hands, and that is an immense responsibility. We take it very seriously and consequently cannot support budget cuts to public safety. We hope that you will attend Town Board meetings and make your opinions known as budget cuts are considered.
Jennifer Peters Union President, Telecommunicators Union Local 3443
