This session offered a unique look into tactical dispatch teams that respond with field units, as well as those that operate out of the center. Attendees were able to take lessons learned from the Athens-Clarke County 9-1-1 as they developed their team as well and those lessons learned when Orleans Parish utilized their team during Madi Gras.

What makes tactical dispatch different than our everyday operations? Tyrell Morris stated that tactical dispatchers operate with a specific task or operation in mind. This task may be water rescues during a flash flooding outbreak, high-risk warrant services, SWAT/SRT operations and other like operations. These teams take the special operation workload off the center’s floor, reducing the call load and tasks of the rest of the communications staff.

In the case of Jonathan Jones and Athens-Clarke County, their team deploys in a mobile command post to the field. There they are able to assist field units on the scene, in real-time through CJIS inquiries, information analysis and on-scene communications.

There can be some pushback from responders, but Jones and Morris recommend having a difficult conversation with those responders and getting them to understand your value and what you can offer during tactical situations.

Some takeaways from this session:

• These teams are not for everyone. The emergency communications operators assigned to this program should be able to operate in adverse conditions, unlike the sometimes sterile communications center.
• Have a policy in place. This policy should include things like the qualifications required to apply for the position, what the applications and review process are, and what constitutes disqualification and removal from the team.
• Responders DO benefit by having a dedicated communications operator working only their incident.

Jones and Morris offer some material to assist centers that look to start their own team. This information can be located at http://tinyurl.com/tacticaldispatch

Covered by Zachary Dykes