Neighborhood Watch groups tour 911 Dispatch Center Thursday

Members of two Neighborhood Watch groups, and prospective members of a third, met at the Public Safety Building at 120 S. Ash St. in Nevada on Thursday, to hear a brief presentation on the program and then tour the Western Missouri 911 Dispatch Center.

About 18 people showed up to listen to Nevada police officer John Foster talk about rules at the dispatch center. He also talked about personal safety at home, in a vehicle, as a pedestrian, and even on the phone. Each participant was given some handouts with safety tips and then listened as Sergeant Steve Bastow told them of a women's self-defense course the police department is going to offer in the near future. After about 20 minutes, the group went to the dispatch center at 2040 E. Hunter St. in Nevada.

Western Missouri 911 Dispatch Center Director Richard Roark welcomed the group and requested that cell phones be turned off and any weapons, including pocket knives, be put in lockers provided for that purpose. The group then entered the dispatch center that was dimly lit with the light from numerous computer screens.

Dispatchers Brenda Bruce and Emily Earnest were at their work stations taking calls and dispatching services as needed. Roark told the group that a total of 11 dispatchers work in the center and there are two on duty at all times.

He explained how the center's mapping system works and how it enables a dispatcher to send emergency personnel to the proper location just with the information provided by the call. During a "call for service" the system identifies landline calls and gives a specific address. Cell phone calls are pinpointed by longitude and latitude and the address at those coordinates is identified.

One goal of the visit to the center was for the participants to learn what kind of information to give the dispatcher when they call the center. Brenda Bruce told the group the "most important information for us is what and where." Roark told listeners that the dispatchers are trained to ask specific questions and he said "the more information you can give us the better." He recommended specifying the caller's name and address and if possible providing detailed information as to a suspect's physical characteristics, clothing and vehicle if possible.

There were several questions from the group on scheduling and other aspects of the center's operation. Dispatchers work 12-hour shifts and have a staggered schedule so they get three days off every other weekend. Roark pointed out that the job can be very demanding and that "it takes a unique kind of person to do this job." Several members of the group who have scanners praised the dispatchers for the work that they do.

After a brief discussion about the center's operation during the Joplin tornado disaster and the differences between landline phones and cell phones, Roark told the group that dispatchers have training requirements they must meet. Roark thanked the group for coming and told them to call the center if they had any further questions. The group adjourned to the jail lobby for a brief discussion and schedule of the next meeting before going home.

There were some new people at this meeting that were interested in beginning a group in their neighborhood.

For more information on starting a Neighborhood Watch program in your part of the city contact the Nevada Police Department at (417) 448-5100.