2004 Annual Report - City of Fairbanks

In 2004 we bid a fond farewell to three of our senior Dispatchers as they retired
from service. We also lost one additional Dispatcher to an out-of-state move. Due
to the increase in both calls-received and agencies dispatched for, minimumstaffing
per-shift was increased from two dispatchers in 2003 to three
Dispatchers after the cut-over. The combination of increased staffing, combined
with training requirements for new employees to replace departing staff, led to a
tremendous amount of overtime for the last half of the year. Our Dispatchers
were required to work 3,983 hours of overtime in 2004 to successfully meet the
needs of the community! The Dispatchers and their families deserve a huge pat
on the back for all of their hard work and job dedication!
Due to the increasing
complexity of this highly
technical position, competent
supervision was identified as
a key component necessary
to maintain effective
operations. To fulfill this
need, 2004 saw the creation
of three Shift Lead
positions- with three of our
Dispatchers being promoted
to fill this supervisory role.
Four new Dispatchers were
hired in 2004, two of which
have nearly completed of
their training. Our other two
new-hires
are anticipated to complete their training by May 2005. The training of
a new Dispatcher takes approximately 20 weeks to complete. The trainee will
rotate
through 4 “phases” and numerous trainers, all of whom have different
areas
of expertise and knowledge.
Phase
1, or the “CRIMES” phase,
consists
of 8 weeks of learning the
C AD (Computer Aided Dispatch),
CRIMES
reporting database,
APSIN
database, alarm monitoring
system,
processing of paperwork,
(both
incoming and outgoing)
learning
proper communications
terminology
and numerical codes
used on the radio, answering the
incoming telephone calls on the
business line, and of course
learning the policies and
procedures of the Fairbanks Police
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