MY NUMBER ONE BEEF WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS...NATIONWIDE...CIVILIAN DISPATCHERS. In an effort to save money, civilian dispatcher are taking the place of sworn police personnel to take and dispatch calls. Sorry, but no civilian, no matter how good they are has any idea what the JOB entails. I used to just LOVE when I got the " See about the man / woman threatening to commit suicide."...I used to always ask "HOW?"...and the civilian would say.."How am I suppose to know?" I'd get back on the air..."ASK....makes a difference to me if the person is trying to take pills or stick their head in the oven or if they are armed to the teeth and want to commit suicide by police. Call back and ask...that's your job...to give me as much info as possible so I can safely do mine." At least when you had police personnel, who had spent years and years on the street and then due to injuries or age or whatever, they were assigned to dispatch...they knew what questions to ask, what info you needed and by the sound of your voice if maybe they should get a few more cars rolling your way cause sugar was about to turn into S*^T. If that call taker or dispatcher "KNOWINGLY" left off that info that was right there in front of them, they should be charged with negligent homicide and the department sued to the hilt by the families of the slain officers for allowing a improperly trained person dispatch calls. OOPS...sorry folks...happens when my brothers and sisters are taken out by point of sale that are afforded every right in the constitution, and we are left dangling in the wind. People wonder why police and fire are such close knit families...cause we are all that we have...each other. The Mayors and politicians will all give pretty speeches and make grand stand appearances at the funerals..but the family of blue will be there for the officers wives and families long after the showboating is over!!!