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Last Answer on October 29, 2014

Do big-city police radio systems sometimes work like a tree where a dispatcher handles say 20 units in a precinct; another dispatcher communicates with 10 of those dispatchers so an officer can comm with an officer on another district or something?

Asked by Sal over 11 years ago

I've not had the chance to observe the dispatch center of a very large agency (such as a NYPD, LAPD, Chicago, etc.) What I've seen in medium sized departments (100-200 officers), you would have a dispatcher on each channel. A single channel might be dedicated to a specific area or precinct, while another might be dedicated to records checks.

So if a department had three precincts, there might be four channels (a dispatcher for each of the three precincts plus one for running warrant checks, license checks, etc.) Then there would be at least one supervisor who would make sure everything is running smooth. There would be call takers (people answering the phones) who might be cross-trained to dispatch.

Typically, there will be extra people available to bring up an extra channel if a special event happened. For example, lets say you had a vehicle accident with a death. The traffic homicide unit plus the officers working that scene might go to an extra channel to work and keep their radio traffic off of the precinct channels.

I hope that helps.

662 Votes

I have a friend who works for a police department in the records department. Can I call and ask to talk to her directly and be put through

Asked by vicki about 11 years ago

Yes, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

661 Votes

Is calling someone fake on Instagram a form of cyber bulling? Or a donkey?

Asked by Kennedi about 11 years ago

I'm not about to make a judgement call on what is or is not a violation of some state's laws on cyber bullying. However, I would encourage you and everyone else to (1) ignore other people's hurtful words and (2) if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing.

661 Votes

I was wondering what could a officer do about this guy who keeps calling me and bullying me in school and trying to get his girl friends to gang up on me and jump me friday he called me 3 times but then stopped and it is messing me up in school

Asked by Carrie almost 11 years ago

Call your local police department and ask for their assistance. They will know what to do.

661 Votes

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I became aware of my husband drinking and driving. I have told him that when I am aware that he is doing this, I will report him (and his car license plate) to the police. He is in denial of his problem. Will I be taken seriously?

Asked by momof3 over 11 years ago

If you are asking will your husband take you seriously, I don't know. Probably not. It sounds like he has a lack of regard for the safety of himself and others. Anything you say is unlikely to get him to change his behavior.

If you are asking will the police dispatcher take you seriously, of course they will.

661 Votes

is there a grace period in pa for expired inspection stickers? My registration is up to date but I cant get my car inspected until october 3rd and it expired september 30

Asked by deejay almost 11 years ago

No idea.

661 Votes

Hello Bluesheepdog,
My question is: if I see children in a vehicle at the parking lot, is that something I can report on the emergency line? I don't agree with it, but uncertain if it is a cause the police is concerned about.

Asked by Irene Judith Hernandez almost 11 years ago

If children are in danger, please call the emergency line.

660 Votes

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Police Officer

Ask me anything!

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Do big-city police radio systems sometimes work like a tree where a dispatcher handles say 20 units in a precinct; another dispatcher communicates with 10 of those dispatchers so an officer can comm with an officer on another district or something?

I have a friend who works for a police department in the records department. Can I call and ask to talk to her directly and be put through

Is calling someone fake on Instagram a form of cyber bulling? Or a donkey?

I was wondering what could a officer do about this guy who keeps calling me and bullying me in school and trying to get his girl friends to gang up on me and jump me friday he called me 3 times but then stopped and it is messing me up in school

Also on Jobstr...

I became aware of my husband drinking and driving. I have told him that when I am aware that he is doing this, I will report him (and his car license plate) to the police. He is in denial of his problem. Will I be taken seriously?

is there a grace period in pa for expired inspection stickers? My registration is up to date but I cant get my car inspected until october 3rd and it expired september 30

Hello Bluesheepdog,
My question is: if I see children in a vehicle at the parking lot, is that something I can report on the emergency line? I don't agree with it, but uncertain if it is a cause the police is concerned about.

Police Officer

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Do big-city police radio systems sometimes work like a tree where a dispatcher handles say 20 units in a precinct; another dispatcher communicates with 10 of those dispatchers so an officer can comm with an officer on another district or something?

I have a friend who works for a police department in the records department. Can I call and ask to talk to her directly and be put through

Is calling someone fake on Instagram a form of cyber bulling? Or a donkey?

I was wondering what could a officer do about this guy who keeps calling me and bullying me in school and trying to get his girl friends to gang up on me and jump me friday he called me 3 times but then stopped and it is messing me up in school

Also on Jobstr...

I became aware of my husband drinking and driving. I have told him that when I am aware that he is doing this, I will report him (and his car license plate) to the police. He is in denial of his problem. Will I be taken seriously?

is there a grace period in pa for expired inspection stickers? My registration is up to date but I cant get my car inspected until october 3rd and it expired september 30

Hello Bluesheepdog, My question is: if I see children in a vehicle at the parking lot, is that something I can report on the emergency line? I don't agree with it, but uncertain if it is a cause the police is concerned about.

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Hello Bluesheepdog,
My question is: if I see children in a vehicle at the parking lot, is that something I can report on the emergency line? I don't agree with it, but uncertain if it is a cause the police is concerned about.