Dispatching Serves Community(posted Apr 28) Public safety dispatching is undergoing changes and improvements to keep pace with the public's needs, so Speedway residents should not feel inhibited to call dispatch about their concerns. Sarah Edie, communications coordinator, is continually working out the kinks to improve dispatch and its customer service. Speedway Assistant Police Chief Joel Rush praised Edie's work during the April 25 crime watch meeting, saying she climbed the ranks quickly because of her ability to work through issues to improve dispatch. "Call us, our job is to help you," Rush said. Small towns have higher expectation of their government service. He said when he first joined the department he was dispatched to a resident who wanted help to start the furnace. Edie was available to answer dispatching questions and complaints. Lucy Tingle was concerned that dispatch would not forward flooding calls after hours to the street department. Tingle said she expected to be calling the street department or dispatch if the heavy rains continue. She wanted assurance that the street department would be notified. Tingle said that was not the case recently when her neighbor called from Tingle's house because sewage was backing up into her home. Dispatch directed her to call Rotor Rooter and would not forward the call to dispatch the street department. Edie said that dispatch now understands to forward calls to street department after hours. She said dispatch's after hours non-emergency number is 246-4300 and then hit zero to be directed to dispatch. Julia Pratt too had the same concerned that she did not feel like those calls were being forward. She wanted to know if the calls are recorded when forwarded. Edie acknowledged that all incoming and outgoing calls are audio recorded and retained on file for a certain length of time. Edie explained dispatchers' conversations could seem abrupt because they are multi-tasking. They are receiving dispatch calls for fire and police and trying to discern the information regardless if the call was 9-1-1 or non-emergency. The two dispatchers may become inundated with calls to the point the conversation may be brief, so they can get to the next call. She requested residents to contact her if they have a complaint about dispatchers and their customer service performance. Edie recommended using the landline phones whenever possible to make sure the call reaches Speedway dispatch. A cell phone is going to hit the nearest cell tower that could direct the call to another public safety answering point instead of Speedway. Zoning violations were becoming a growing concern in Speedway, so last fall the town created a position called a zoning code enforcer. Maintaining the zoning code is a good crime preventative tool. Jereme Howery, zoning code officer, plans to be out enforcing swimming pool and hot tub compliance. A pool that is 18 inches or taller, whether above or below ground, requires fencing or structural barriers. Pools or hot tubs cannot be located in the front yards or at least five feet from the side lot line. Howery will also be checking for inoperable cars, whether parked in the homeowner's driveway or in the street. He will check to see if the car is plated or if it is inoperable. Many people don't realize it, but it is a violation to display a "for sale" sign in a vehicle whether in a residential driveway or street, he explained. Howery is diligently pushing shopping centers to clean up the trash strewn behind the stores as well as working with businesses to comply with dumpster regulations. |
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