From Deseret News archives:
Dispatchers overextended
Too few covering too many hours with money too tight
But when officials in the sheriff's office learned that their dispatchers recently started working mandatory overtime shifts four, 12-hour shifts each week they decided to call public attention to a long-standing problem.
"We have to put a value on what (dispatchers) do," said Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Harris. "I think, in the past, we've just kind of dismissed dispatchers, but if we all take a real, hard look at it, communication is the essence of most of what is successful in law enforcement. Without good communication, we're destined to fail."
The sheriff's office says it has a manpower crisis in the county dispatch center, which dispatch supervisor Doris Mohler says is partly due to an exploding population.
"For the amount of growth that has happened in the population, the number of dispatchers has not increased in a proportionate manner," Mohler said.
According to the 2000 Census, Utah County's population grew from 263,590 in 1990 to 368,536 in 2000, a 28 percent increase. But Mohler, who has worked in the dispatch center for 18 years, says the staff has increased by just two since 1990.
Provo Dispatch Center Supervisor Dana Ferre said her center is facing an even bigger staffing crisis.
"We're actually worse off than county (sheriff dispatchers)," she said. "We have such a high workload, but the city hasn't given us any new dispatchers since the early '90s."
Ferre said all dispatch centers struggle to attract and keep staff.
"I don't think there's a dispatch center that you could call that wouldn't say the same thing," she said. "It goes with the territory; that's just how dispatching is it's a stressful job. It's just something that we live with on a daily basis. It gets worse at times. Right now it's really bad. But we're always fighting it."
Both Ferre and Mohler cited the stressful working conditions as the main source of staffing problems.
Comments
- Obama to pledge 17% cut in CO2 11:08 p.m.
- Utahns to spend conservatively 11:00 p.m.
- Economy showing signs of life 10:57 p.m.
- NBA roundup: Wolves lose again 10:55 p.m.
- Utahn is starving herself for Kenya 10:53 p.m.
- SUU falls to Tennessee Tech 10:35 p.m.
- NHL roundup: Crosby leads Pens 10:27 p.m.
- Shelters seeing more hungry families 10:25 p.m.
- New holiday meaning for Breinholt 10:23 p.m.
- Bruins edge Wild in shootout 10:16 p.m.
- Donny and Kym dance to victory
- Howard made the rivalry a rivalry
- Cave rescuers committed to free man
- Cougars cruise past Southern
- Loyal to Cougarettes, Crimson Line
- Twitterati to BCS: 'We hate you.'
- Y. focused on 10-win season
- BYU has slim shot at BCS
- Thunder rolls by Jazz
- Witness describes '99 killing
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
258 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
227 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
208 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
139 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
129 - Boys basketball rankings
108 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
104 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102
Now I have a reason to care about the senate race. Finally a guy I can get...
he was there you just have to look for him
We do not deny GW. All we are saying is, that there really no proof tahat it...
From Misi. I'm sure he is a great player. But I think I can safely say that...
It makes me grumpy that people think these are students who take easy...
When all is won, and done, Championship smiles are forever. As are would...
Nutty Putty is really fun and very safe if you are prepared. My first thought...
This article could have been written the other way around. Misi will have...
Television has gone down hill since the mid 90s when the non-cable networks...
I agree, Collison and Bobby Brown are 2 examples of real talent that just...




You can be the first to comment on this story.