[LenS]

If we dial 911 from our cell phones (GPS-enabled phone-SprintPCS) will all our info come up at the dispatch center?

If we have CallerID blocking enabled on all outgoing calls, should we program *82911 in the cell phone? [*82 undoes the CallerID blocking on a per-call basis.]

Just trying to update the info on our cell phones and want to get it right.

Thanks.

 

[Curious EMT]

No need to dial *82.

If we're going to get your info, we're going to get it regardless of your caller-id status.

Key word being if, which is most often, but not always with cellular 911's

Personaly, I keep the direct numbers to the baracks that cover the areas I'm usualy in already programed in my cell phone, along with the town's as well. (PD MSP Danvers, PD Danvers, etc). No offence, but even for a dispatcher like myself, dealing with the 911 calltakers for MSP is difficult and aggrivating, and they sometimes transfer to the wrong bracks anyways.

 

[LenS]

Curious,

Boy you are encouraging!

As a Constable, I'm all over the place and don't have time to look up and enter all the different towns I'm in . . . just in case. Today I was trying to serve papers on a coke-head in No. Attleboro, but it turns out that she's currently "vacationing" at one of the Bristol Cty jails. Monday I could be anywhere else within a 35mile radius.

Yes, I remember a classic (but sad) argument I had with a MSP dispatcher (Trooper back then) in the days before cell phones. Mid-day I see an elderly woman madly trying to wave down traffic from a cut-away on Rte. 128 ~1 mile West of Rte. 1 (Dedham) . . . nobody stopped. The driver (an elderly man) appeared slumped over the wheel. I was in the left lane, but took the US-1 exit and headed to the payphone at the gas station just off the exit ramp. Dialed "O" and asked the Operator for MSP Foxboro for a medical emergency. Argue with the Trooper about the need for medical help . . . he's questioning "why do I think it is a medical emergency" after I explained what I saw. One mistake on my part was that I didn't ID myself as a PO (it probably would have made a difference in his small mind back then)! I don't know whatever happened. [I usually give them my name and I don't mind giving address. They're welcome to come over and beat the crap out of me if I give them false info! I don't usually call and I never call unless I assess it to be a genuine emergency. These days I almost never call regardless of what I see broken down. Don't like trying to deal with small cell phones as I drive . . . watch the road and try to dial at the same time . . . too dangerous.]

 

[Curious EMT]

Lens, yes, I know what you mean.

Phase-2 of E-911 (exact cell-phone location) was supposed to roll out this year, and many installs were to be completed by Labor Day, and the entire state sometime in 2006.
But, there was an instance when a 911 caller died because the new PC based system malfunctioned. Therefore, it will not be implemented until the problem is resolved.
So, until then, it's regular ol' 911 for now....

Even then, the system will not be perfect. There are instances in which cell-towers, cell-phones, and other communications will not foward info through the lines, like happens now from time to time with cell or landline calls.

 

[thumper2168]

If you now have a GPS cell phone it will display a map at GHQ with you location w/in a 100 yards, so if you are being sliced and diced they will know where you are.. So if you get a transferred call from MSP you can ask them for the map location...

 

[ROBOCOP1982]

On WPH2 phones the exact latitude and longitude which pops up on the ALI screen, and a computer monitor pinpoints it on a map. WPH1 phones give the nearest tower. My department has had the system up and running for a while, works well.

 

[Curious EMT]

On WPH2 phones the exact latitude and longitude which pops up on the ALI screen, and a computer monitor pinpoints it on a map. WPH1 phones give the nearest tower. My department has had the system up and running for a while, works well.

You guys are Phase-2? What dept, if I may ask?
Have you had any of your PSAP's go down becasue of computer issues?

 

[Guest]

Curious,

Boy you are encouraging!

As a Constable, I'm all over the place and don't have time to look up and enter all the different towns I'm in . . . just in case. Today I was trying to serve papers on a coke-head in No. Attleboro, but it turns out that she's currently "vacationing" at one of the Bristol Cty jails. Monday I could be anywhere else within a 35mile radius.

Yes, I remember a classic (but sad) argument I had with a MSP dispatcher (Trooper back then) in the days before cell phones. Mid-day I see an elderly woman madly trying to wave down traffic from a cut-away on Rte. 128 ~1 mile West of Rte. 1 (Dedham) . . . nobody stopped. The driver (an elderly man) appeared slumped over the wheel. I was in the left lane, but took the US-1 exit and headed to the payphone at the gas station just off the exit ramp. Dialed "O" and asked the Operator for MSP Foxboro for a medical emergency. Argue with the Trooper about the need for medical help . . . he's questioning "why do I think it is a medical emergency" after I explained what I saw. One mistake on my part was that I didn't ID myself as a PO (it probably would have made a difference in his small mind back then)! I don't know whatever happened. [I usually give them my name and I don't mind giving address. They're welcome to come over and beat the crap out of me if I give them false info! I don't usually call and I never call unless I assess it to be a genuine emergency. These days I almost never call regardless of what I see broken down. Don't like trying to deal with small cell phones as I drive . . . watch the road and try to dial at the same time . . . too dangerous.]

Lens,
I can feel for the other trooper. Everyone calls 911 as an expert on what is going on, but they never stop to really look. After receiving dozens of these every 15-30 minutes, you do not believe anyone. Here are some examples:
-medical emergency: guy w/ head tilted reading map
-car is engulfed in flames: white smoke from an overheat
-"this guy is trying to kill me and ran me off the road": was cut off, pissed
-car stopped in the right lane, blocking traffic: DMV well off in BDL/grass
-3 car accident w/ injuries: two cars, one giving other a jump
This is what a majority of the BS calls are. I bet if there was a .50 cent charge for each call, only real emergencies would be called in.

 

[LenS]

MSP, I understand your point . . . and I take some personal responsibility for it, as I didn't ID myself as a PO (I may have given my name, I usually do it automatically).

Back before 911, all of us used to have to work dispatch as part of the job. This was before we hired and trained civilian dispatchers. So, I know that there is a lot of validity in what you are saying.

Given the specific scenario that I outlined, I can't see how anyone can conclude anything but a medical emergency in this particular case however. And as I said, there was no way that I could have cut thru 3 lanes of traffic at ~60mph to stop anywhere near her and check out what really happened.

 

[Guest]

A TV news reporter should work dispatch during high traffic hours and then report on it. They have no idea.

 

[FRPDConstable]

We use the New 911 system here in Fall River and it works great MOST of the time. You always get a callback number and a location. In a big city it is hard because alot of times on it will show 123 test st and it will really be 125 test street that the party lives in. Also if they can not talk what floor? The only problem i have seen is with disconnected phones. People can still call 911 with no service but you can not track the number and most cases can not track them.

 

[Bravo2-7]

A TV news reporter should work dispatch during high traffic hours and then report on it. They have no idea.

Gotta agree with you there MSP, I left G back in July after four years of working there and the volume of calls there is just ridiculous sometimes. My first year, working on the Eve Shift, I rarely had a night where I answered less than 250 calls a shift. The new system had improved the workload greatly before I left though.

 

[NBPD]

DAm phase 2 ? I wish we were in that phase still stuck in phase one so we just call MSP for the location or closest location/tower within a range of 100 yards. Any idea to when phase 2 will be hitting most of southeast new england?

 

[Curious EMT]

DAm phase 2 ? I wish we were in that phase still stuck in phase one so we just call MSP for the location or closest location/tower within a range of 100 yards. Any idea to when phase 2 will be hitting most of southeast new england?

Its on a department specific basis. They're back to upgrading, but I think they realized starting with the big busy departments is a cluster f*** asking for problems, so they're hitting the smaller 2-PSAP locations first, until they have it "down pat"...

I've called SP back from a cell-transfer and gotten an exact location at the time of the call. He wasn't able to "re-poll" and get the current location as he wasnt handling the call. But it came in handy when I doubted a disorientated female's reported location. She was stationary, and where she said she was....

 

[NBPD]

ah I see I see thanks for the information. =]

 

[SPO280]

Lens,
I can feel for the other trooper. Everyone calls 911 as an expert on what is going on, but they never stop to really look. After receiving dozens of these every 15-30 minutes, you do not believe anyone. Here are some examples:
-medical emergency: guy w/ head tilted reading map
-car is engulfed in flames: white smoke from an overheat
-"this guy is trying to kill me and ran me off the road": was cut off, pissed
-car stopped in the right lane, blocking traffic: DMV well off in BDL/grass
-3 car accident w/ injuries: two cars, one giving other a jump
This is what a majority of the BS calls are. I bet if there was a .50 cent charge for each call, only real emergencies would be called in.

Amen.....How about $1 a call? The calls for lock outs and noise complaints will drop I'm sure

 

[MM1799]

I agree the BS calls are retarded and it gets real annoying chasing them around all the time.. but charging for a call? I dont particulary enjoy chasing 22's but I appreciate that people have their eyes open and are making the effort. Every now and then it pays off. On Rt 3, aty the drumhill, a couple weeks ago limo driver called and reported a suspected DUI.. cruiser started en route.. pulled driver over and while doing the SFST the guy collapses.. ambulance and all that shit. I appreciated the limo driving taking the time out to call and it made up for most of the BS ones all night.

I wish the bs calls could be sifted through better with better questions and people taking time to observe (like msp75 said) but I wouldnt want to make people question the idea of calling 911 and then missing something that later turns out deadly. Just my opinion.