Size of Communication Center

[policescanner3]

Well, I was just curious... How big are everyone's actual Communication Center building? How many consoles? Do you share the building?
(Jim, unfortunately...TriCom's too small right now, huh?...Can't wait for the new one!!!!)

PS3

[gone1096]

We have 8 consoles with a minimum of 5 operators. We do Police/Fire/EMS so we have a primary PD operator, Fire operator, NCIC/TCIC operator and two calltakers at all times.

[MrJim911]

Yes, too small!! Can't wait until next year!! It'll be about 5500-7500 sq feet. 5 consoles with room for 2-3 more.

(Hi gone1096, fancy seeing you here! LOL)

[tunkleahterhead]

Way too small we have 4 consoles in a room in the basement of our hospital. We have 2-3 dispatchers on a shift and we dispatch for police/fire/ems for the entire county which has a population of about 30,000 people

[JOKeefe]

We have 7 consoles in the Center, with 4 manned at all times and the Supervisor's console manned whenever possible. The other 2 consoles are for those rare times when we have extra people, or for special events, such as Oktoberfest, when we staff extra. We have one dispatcher for the La Crosse PD, one for all other law enforcement in the county and one for all FDs & 1st Responders, including direct dispatch of the La Crosse FD. The 4th dispatcher helps out as needed and handles breaks.

If anyone's in the La Crosse, WI area, give us a call (608)785-9634, and stop in for a visit. We're very proud of our center (4 years old), which is on the ground floor (and we have WINDOWS!!!) of the new Law Enforcement Center.

[creekmedic]

4 console's with minimum of 2 operators and some reserve console's.

[ECFD924]

Well I can speak for two dispatch centers. First is my full time job at Shelby County E-911 in Shelby county Alabama,the fastest growing county in the state. Are center is about 3500 square feet, there are 5 offices up front, a meeting room with TV and multi media, a male restroom, female restroom, and co-ed shower. We have a full kitchen right next to the dispact center. Are actual dispacth room has 5 consoles with four operators on duty from 10a-10p and three the rest of the time. There are several other rooms off of the dispatch room, shift supervisors office(there is another console in this office), computer room, telephone room, radio room and storage room. You can check us out at www.shelby911.org. We dispatch only Fire and Rescue at this center for 28 fire departments.

I also work part-time for Chilton County E-911,which is just south of Shelby County. There we have three consoles in a small room in the basement of the courthouse. We dispatch Police/Fire/EMS at this center. There is also an office for the Director of the center.


Matt Griffin

[SthnFireComNZ]

Kiaora (Hello) from New Zealand

Imagine if you will, 4 million people scattered over three main Islands ranging from coastal plain to mountains 12000 ft high. The North Island has approximately 3/4 of the population, with the remaining 1 million people scattered over the South and Stewart Islands (approx 90 000 square miles/150 000 square kilometres). The Southern Comcentre is situated in Christchurch and is a "Co-Location Centre" specifically, it is staffed by both Police and Fire Despatch staff. We have 23 workstations, 18 Police and 5 Fire.
Police normally have around 12 calltakers/despatches + a Shift Manager, but this is dependant on what day of the week it is and special events etc.
The Fire Service has normally a staff of Manager + 4 Communicators, however we occasionally dip down to Manager + 2 due to sickness etc.
The layout of the room is OK, the only down is that FireCom is tucked away at the back. We have our own kitchen/break area right next door, and a Monday - Friday cafe just upstairs. Being in the central city we are fortunate to have heaps of food outlets nearby and a park and river just across the road (for those "Sanity" breaks).

Cheers for now

Colin

[jsomerville]

Our center has 4 consoles, 1 supervisor console and 1 EOC console. Our minimum staffing is 3 on duty. Since we are a combined center, we staff 1 as a police dispatcher, 1 as a fire dispatcher and 1 as a call taker/back up.

Our center is in the Justice Center for the city and not with the FD.