Oh the Barneys and the Fifes...

Not much time.



I sum up...


(Cue the Mayberry "deputy" music)



New job (911)has commenced, and the first few days are observation in which I'm paired with operators who will later become my trainers after I've completed the Academy. I'm supposed to be getting a better feel for things this way. Being a hands-on sort, there is only so much of a feel one can get till being trained on the multiple screens and applications. But I've REALLY enjoyed the folks I've been assigned to accompany.



I'm beginning to hear some of their experiences, too, and to get my "sea legs" as calls are taken. I'm finding my years of being a mom to my daughter as well as having kept other children is coming in very handy. A cool head is needed while trying to get basic information and sometimes requiring problem-solving skills, and no two calls are exactly the same.



I'm about to head to bed, again, due to the schedule we are keeping right now. I have a twelve hour day tomorrow, and I've already spent the time off today catching up with my daughter, after having pulled some crazy hours I'd normally be home.



But just wanted to mention one funny thing...



My trainer today was telling me about some people who've watched too many police shows on TV, or who like to listen in on the open public dispatch lines for police and fire calls. Since most of the lingo is in signals and codes, some of these callers will try to use the same vernacular when they call in. My trainer was chuckling when telling me about this.



This is the example she gave...(no real codes, names or places given here)





Operator: 911 emergency, what is your location?

Caller: My ten-thirty-one is Such-N-Such, and I'm at mile marker 80.

Operator: (Nonplussed) Can you verify your phone number for me?

Caller: (verifies)

Operator: Do you need police or an ambulance?

Caller: Maybe the police. I just need to report a ten-41.

Operator: Tell me exactly what your emergency is, sir.

Caller: A ten-30 just passed me doing 90 in a 70 and is ten- 41 and is endangering the lives of others.

Operator: Sir??

Caller: I said a speeding car overtook me on the highway doing 90 in a 70 and is driving recklessly... Oh yes, I did get their tag number. It's Florida tag A-C-6-7-Q.

Operator: (Repeating the tag numbers back...) Your cell phone is breaking up...can you repeat that tag number, sir...was that a Q or a 2?

Caller: (Repeating slowly and loudly for clarity) That is A as in Alpha, C as in Charlie,

six, seven, Q as in cucumber...

(Oh my gosh, STILL LAUGHING!!!)















The phonetic alphabet will never be the same.

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