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USU police dispatchers send help
for problems from lock-outs to death
By M.
Kathryn Hanberg
February 19, 2008 | LOGAN -- At the end of a graveyard
shift, the phone rang.
"University police," Emily Evjen, a Utah State University
dispatcher said.
"My infant boy is cold and stiff. I think he's dead,"
responded a male voice on the other end of the phone.
It was true: the infant had died of Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the night. He was found by
his father, who called the USU police, Evjen said.
Being a dispatcher is much more difficult than may
be realized. It is always important to remain calm to
help reduce the amount of panic from the caller, Evjen
said.
When police respond to an emergency call, little is
mentioned of how they learned of the incident. Dispatchers
behind the scenes are constantly at work informing officers
of a variety of emergencies and needs.
Evjen described dispatch as a "communication link."
"University Police" is the first phrase heard on the
other end of the phone when calling from USU. It is
then followed by a series of questions to help gather
information for the responding officer.
The programs and jargon of the job are difficult.
Programs such as Spillman Mobil, a program that shows
all calls received through dispatch in Cache County;
USJIS, a program that informs the state of incidences
such as escaped convicts; and Metasys, the campus security
system, are challenging when first learning.
On top of the day-to-day challenges as mentioned above,
the calls can be challenging as well, said Evjen.
The University Police deal with a variety of calls
ranging from a lock-out to a death. They can be something
as simple as a "let-in," calling to be let into a university
building, or as complicated as an abuse or sexual case.
Along with the serious work, there is a time to have
fun. When times are slow, dispatchers, officers, and
security guards joke around with each other. They ask
questions like, "What is the secret 10 code to get out
of a ticket?" and then laugh about the ideas of police
being able to get out of a speeding ticket so easily.
Being a dispatcher is more than a voice on the other
end of the line. It is a communicator who will get you
the help you need. Dispatchers are "service oriented,"
and willing to do all in their power to keep us safe,
Evjen said.
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