PBSO Communications Center Breakdown

When is someone going to take the courage to recognize that the span of control for dispatchers to deputies is DANGEROUS. A road patrol Sergeant routinely supervises between five and fifteen people, but what justification does "anyone" have to have between 50 and sometimes 100 different deputies from different assignments (TAC, CP, Road, CSA's, Motors & Traffic, and sometimes OCB agents and Detectives) all on the same channel for one dispatcher. The nationwide standard is 35 to 1. Commo has always been treated like the red-headed step child. One day the attrition is going to dwindle perosnnel down to nothing but supervisors; and we all know everyone wants to be a supervisor at PBSO because they know they don't have to work anymore. Working supervisors are a dying breed and it shows. All of the worker-bees will eventually flee the flock.
If you told road deputies that they had to find another deputy to fill in for their vacation days, there is no doubt the doo-doo would hit the fan. How would you like to have to beg, plead and borrow with fellow co-workers just so you can take time off to get your head back together and wind down and then be told that one of the days in the middle of your vacation isn't covered so you'll have to come in. No wonder people drop out of the Comm Center in droves. (This doesn't happen in HR, Accounting, Corrections, Records, etc...) On top of the vacation time burden the commo girls are subjected to (by the way supervisors and managment don''t have to find a replacement for their vacation); Comp time is routinely denied whcih is a VIOLATION of FEDERAL FLSA law. Comp can't be denied with proper notification. If it is denied and there is no "True emergency" its then its a violation, but management won't telll you that and they'll keep breaking the law and violating the rules until someone says NO. It is unacceptable and this is a routine and practice that has cultivated a crisis where deputies have to supplement the staffing. How can you call Commo a career when these obstacles are stacked in front of you as tall as the Empire State Building.
The solution is a 35 to 1 ratio for dispatchers combined with the new computer system of lap top capability. It's sad that management won't touch the 35 to 1 issue.
Law enforcement, Corrections, and every other divison in the Sheriff's Office doesn't have an issue with retaining and training personnel, but Commo does. These girls are treated just like constitutionally sworn deputies during hurricanes or state of emergencies. They're right there on 10/100 status with law enforcement and corrections and their level of commitment is higher than any of the other civilian positions, but the civilains in accounting and Human Resources get paid an equal salary with a less than adequate level of commitment. Yes, money is the issue. It is with life and everything else. If money wasn't an issue why are these retired guys and gals begging to come back. They either don't have a life or they're scamming the system and double dipping and if they're taking a senior management position, they're hurting the agency with their dinosaur mentality.
One thing is undeniable, it is easier to get rid of a supervisor, manager or any other high ranking offical than it is to get rid of the workers. When a crisis hits a police department and causes problems, the chief is the first to go. Supervisors can be changed like the weather, but the job has to get done. Stop getting rid of the workers and hold those responsible for the problems accountable for once, just once please.

When is someone going to take the courage to recognize that the span of control for dispatchers to deputies is DANGEROUS. A road patrol Sergeant routinely supervises between five and fifteen people, but what justification does "anyone" have to have between 50 and sometimes 100 different deputies from different assignments (TAC, CP, Road, CSA's, Motors & Traffic, and sometimes OCB agents and Detectives) all on the same channel for one dispatcher. The nationwide standard is 35 to 1. Commo has always been treated like the red-headed step child. One day the attrition is going to dwindle perosnnel down to nothing but supervisors; and we all know everyone wants to be a supervisor at PBSO because they know they don't have to work anymore. Working supervisors are a dying breed and it shows. All of the worker-bees will eventually flee the flock.
If you told road deputies that they had to find another deputy to fill in for their vacation days, there is no doubt the doo-doo would hit the fan. How would you like to have to beg, plead and borrow with fellow co-workers just so you can take time off to get your head back together and wind down and then be told that one of the days in the middle of your vacation isn't covered so you'll have to come in. No wonder people drop out of the Comm Center in droves. (This doesn't happen in HR, Accounting, Corrections, Records, etc...) On top of the vacation time burden the commo girls are subjected to (by the way supervisors and managment don''t have to find a replacement for their vacation); Comp time is routinely denied whcih is a VIOLATION of FEDERAL FLSA law. Comp can't be denied with proper notification. If it is denied and there is no "True emergency" its then its a violation, but management won't telll you that and they'll keep breaking the law and violating the rules until someone says NO. It is unacceptable and this is a routine and practice that has cultivated a crisis where deputies have to supplement the staffing. How can you call Commo a career when these obstacles are stacked in front of you as tall as the Empire State Building.
The solution is a 35 to 1 ratio for dispatchers combined with the new computer system of lap top capability. It's sad that management won't touch the 35 to 1 issue.
Law enforcement, Corrections, and every other divison in the Sheriff's Office doesn't have an issue with retaining and training personnel, but Commo does. These girls are treated just like constitutionally sworn deputies during hurricanes or state of emergencies. They're right there on 10/100 status with law enforcement and corrections and their level of commitment is higher than any of the other civilian positions, but the civilains in accounting and Human Resources get paid an equal salary with a less than adequate level of commitment. Yes, money is the issue. It is with life and everything else. If money wasn't an issue why are these retired guys and gals begging to come back. They either don't have a life or they're scamming the system and double dipping and if they're taking a senior management position, they're hurting the agency with their dinosaur mentality.
One thing is undeniable, it is easier to get rid of a supervisor, manager or any other high ranking offical than it is to get rid of the workers. When a crisis hits a police department and causes problems, the chief is the first to go. Supervisors can be changed like the weather, but the job has to get done. Stop getting rid of the workers and hold those responsible for the problems accountable for once, just once please.

As stated before, if you don't like it here, go somewhere else.

When is someone going to take the courage to recognize that the span of control for dispatchers to deputies is DANGEROUS. A road patrol Sergeant routinely supervises between five and fifteen people, but what justification does "anyone" have to have between 50 and sometimes 100 different deputies from different assignments (TAC, CP, Road, CSA's, Motors & Traffic, and sometimes OCB agents and Detectives) all on the same channel for one dispatcher. The nationwide standard is 35 to 1. Commo has always been treated like the red-headed step child. One day the attrition is going to dwindle perosnnel down to nothing but supervisors; and we all know everyone wants to be a supervisor at PBSO because they know they don't have to work anymore. Working supervisors are a dying breed and it shows. All of the worker-bees will eventually flee the flock.
If you told road deputies that they had to find another deputy to fill in for their vacation days, there is no doubt the doo-doo would hit the fan. How would you like to have to beg, plead and borrow with fellow co-workers just so you can take time off to get your head back together and wind down and then be told that one of the days in the middle of your vacation isn't covered so you'll have to come in. No wonder people drop out of the Comm Center in droves. (This doesn't happen in HR, Accounting, Corrections, Records, etc...) On top of the vacation time burden the commo girls are subjected to (by the way supervisors and managment don''t have to find a replacement for their vacation); Comp time is routinely denied whcih is a VIOLATION of FEDERAL FLSA law. Comp can't be denied with proper notification. If it is denied and there is no "True emergency" its then its a violation, but management won't telll you that and they'll keep breaking the law and violating the rules until someone says NO. It is unacceptable and this is a routine and practice that has cultivated a crisis where deputies have to supplement the staffing. How can you call Commo a career when these obstacles are stacked in front of you as tall as the Empire State Building.
The solution is a 35 to 1 ratio for dispatchers combined with the new computer system of lap top capability. It's sad that management won't touch the 35 to 1 issue.
Law enforcement, Corrections, and every other divison in the Sheriff's Office doesn't have an issue with retaining and training personnel, but Commo does. These girls are treated just like constitutionally sworn deputies during hurricanes or state of emergencies. They're right there on 10/100 status with law enforcement and corrections and their level of commitment is higher than any of the other civilian positions, but the civilains in accounting and Human Resources get paid an equal salary with a less than adequate level of commitment. Yes, money is the issue. It is with life and everything else. If money wasn't an issue why are these retired guys and gals begging to come back. They either don't have a life or they're scamming the system and double dipping and if they're taking a senior management position, they're hurting the agency with their dinosaur mentality.
One thing is undeniable, it is easier to get rid of a supervisor, manager or any other high ranking offical than it is to get rid of the workers. When a crisis hits a police department and causes problems, the chief is the first to go. Supervisors can be changed like the weather, but the job has to get done. Stop getting rid of the workers and hold those responsible for the problems accountable for once, just once please.

Wow if you are that miserable, you need to get out of Law Enforcement. It's amazing. All of sudden after Pat leaves the message board everyone starts bashing something about this agency. All agencies have problems many more than PBSO. Stop complaining for god sakes.

One definition of humility is an honest appraisal of one's self, good and bad.

I enjoy working here and think we are top notch. I also think that there is always room for improvement in any organization. The guys who say "if you don't like it quit" would be bagging at Publix if it wasn't for this job.

If anyone has any constructive and realisitic replies, we'd all love to hear them.

The original poster was dead-on. The girls up there do an amazing job and are treated extremely poorly. If D/Ses were treated the way the commo personnel are, Kaz' and Mac's PBA phones would melt.

To the person who posted the "If you don't like it here, leave" message: Guess what? They are. There's been a mass exodus from up there over the last year and a half.

The original poster was dead-on. The girls up there do an amazing job and are treated extremely poorly. If D/Ses were treated the way the commo personnel are, Kaz' and Mac's PBA phones would melt.

To the person who posted the "If you don't like it here, leave" message: Guess what? They are. There's been a mass exodus from up there over the last year and a half.

To all communications personnel. You have a really tuff job. Keep up the good work and know the guys/girls on the road support you.

[Been There, Done That]

You want to know why the span of control is so great? Here is why. The stress level for those men/women in "Crystal Palace" is so high, they can hardly keep people up there. That’s why they pay people to come up and answer the phones. Do you realize for a LONG time, those poor people have had to eat at their consoles? Think how busy it is. It takes them about 2 hours to eat their food that way and guess what???? ITS COLD ! ! I haven’t been called away from 40 in a while but I know I never liked it. But it sure beats eating cold. They have to get in line to go to the bathroom. For us guys its easy, in-out & back again. The girls have it a little harder. It just not possible to make more channels if you don’t have the people to man the radios. Remember when there was NO inquiry, or it was shut down due to no body to put there? If I had to come off the road and go upstairs, I don’t know if I could do it. I used to work OT up there a few years ago. After I trained and was by myself on the phones one night, it was a mad house. After a series of nasty calls, I stood up, ripped the head set off my head and said, YOU DONT GET PAID ENOUGH FOR THIS JUNK ! ! And I still feel the same way today. They should be under our heart bill protection and have the 3% multiplier for retirement as well. Just one cops humble opinion.

To Dispatcher C.N. - It's 11:47!

The men and women in Communications are the actual backbone of any agency. If not for them, we could not do our jobs. They do an excellent job. They are overworked but continue to support us. Presently there is a bill in front of our Senators and Congressmen to allow Communications to up their retirement to 3%. Please show your support and write or call your Senator and Congressman. We need to show our support for these hard working employees. God bless them all.

I have felt for a long time that dispatchers should be on par with deputies. Same pay scale, same retirement. Anyone who doesn't think so is just plain ignorant. I've seen both jobs, while theirs is safer, it is much much harder.