CommentsDisplaying Doug's 10 most recent comments.

• Here’s the Audio of That 911 Dispatcher Snoring During an Emergency Call

  May 23, 2012 at 5:00pm

  Continuing….

  There was always someone on duty to wake up the others.

  Agencies that force-feed calls to a dispatcher’s headsets are doing so at their own peril. It was a political way to “shorten response time.” It’s not safe. When a phone call comes in a bell should RING or a horn should blow. This agency got what it paid for and paid for what it got.

  There are dispatch centers in many states that are poorly staffed forcing the good dispatchers to work too many shifts in a row. We insisted that dispatchers in police work reached their effectiveness limitations at 10-12 hours and should be relieved. Does that agency have a standard and if not why not.

  There are some terrible dispatchers in this state and at a number of agencies and I hold MANAGEMENT responsible.

  Did they have a training program? What was this dispatcher’s rank? Was it a relief firefighter?

  Why didn’t the agency forwarding the call recognize the failure to properly connect? I do not understand that. In my view, a MAJOR FAILURE with the call transfer occurred. Who was that dispatcher and what training did they have.

  I am suggesting to you that this horrible event makes all of Maryland’s GREAT dispatchers look bad and part of that reason is that the NEWS MEDIA (BLAZE INCLUDED) is not asking the right questions to get to the truth.

  Dispatching is an honorable and very very important profession. Dispatchers rarely get the kudos they deserve for a job well done. This dispatcher did

• Here’s the Audio of That 911 Dispatcher Snoring During an Emergency Call

  May 23, 2012 at 4:43pm

  Unless you have been in their shoes stand by on your condemnation. This is one of those moments. I was a 911 professional for twelve years in California and moved to Maryland in 2001. Since then I learned that Maryland dispatching was and remains in the dark ages. If it were not for the incredible dedication of many of Maryland’s dispatchers situations like this might occur more often.

  In California we, dispatchers, fought for and won State recognition and certification. I hold one of the first certificates issued. There was a time when a person would be hired and thrown into the dispatch center as though it was simply a front office job answering the telephone. Out of those folks some solid professionals evolved that later demanded their agencies provide proper training, study fatigue, and pay them more than a secretarial wage.

  I still recall the days when file clerks were sent into a 911 center to break a police dispatcher. I didn’t understand it then nor do I now. I do know it was an attempt by short-sided managers to keep dispatching a low-paid support position.

  The PRESS needs to ask some questions before rushing to judgement:

  1. Does Maryland recognize and and formally certify public-safety dispatchers? (I don’t think the state does. yet.)

  2. Did you ask how 24 hour shifts actually work? Where I came from a Fire Dispatcher worked a fire-fighter’s shift, but you only HEAP PRAISE on them. You work for eight and sleep for eight.

• Texas Judge Who Beat Daughter in Shocking Vid: ‘I Haven’t Done Anything Wrong’

  November 3, 2011 at 2:20pm

  He did a lot more than lose his temper. So did the mother. Sixteen year old kids are not beaten into submission. That this man is a judge is incomprehensible. He and the mother deserve contempt.

• Heroin Dealers Living with 6-Year-Old in Tent Busted at Occupy Boston

  October 25, 2011 at 9:21am

  The dregs of the left are just the ones ms pelosi talked about when she lied and smeared the tea party folks. Disgusting.

• Former Bachmann Staffers: National Campaign Team Is ‘Rude, Unprofessional, Dishonest’

  October 25, 2011 at 9:02am

  Mrs. Bachman must get control over her national staff if she plans to remain a serious candidate. This situation does not speak well of her management and supervision skills. Sounds like she may have surrounded herself with opportunistic bullies and probably failed to set expectations as well. Her reaction to this is now very important.

• Foo Fighters Counter-Protest Westboro Baptist Church

  September 18, 2011 at 7:04am

  I think you might have some anger and rage issues of your own to deal with. Just saying.

• Pat Robertson Says Alzheimer’s Disease is Grounds…for Divorce?

  September 16, 2011 at 9:33am

  I made the decision years ago to dismiss this man as irrelevant. What he says or does is of no consequence. This stand of his only supports my decision. When a spouse is sick it is at that time that the other spouse is needed most.

• Religious Discrimination? 8 Amish Men Jailed After Refusal to Post Safety Signs on Buggies

  September 14, 2011 at 7:50pm

  Bright orange jumpsuits switched for gray? Seems like a government admission that orange on the buggy really isn’t necessary. These signs do work. The sign prevents crashes.

• Court Rules Teacher Must Remove ‘In God We Trust’ Classroom Banners

  September 14, 2011 at 7:40pm

  Oh swell. This reminds me of the time I gave a talk in a. Marin County, CA third grade classroom in 2000. I looked up and the room were photos of historical persons and one was the mass murdering Castro clone Che. So we can revere a mass-murdering thug but people find religious references offensive? I did not understand it then nor do I now.

• New Video: See the ‘Saggy Pants’ Dispute That Got College Football Player Booted From Plane

  June 19, 2011 at 1:39pm

  In reply to artmonster1204.

  You hit the nail on the head. It is a form of dress intended to offend, draw attention, disgust, and dare authority to say anything. Most probably wouldn’t to avoid a confrontation. In this case authority (the airline) did the right thing. There are basic public standards of dress and displaying your butt crack in public is not a recognized community standard.