El Camino Community College Police Department Communications & Records

1. El Camino Community CollegePolice DepartmentCommunications & Records Flex Day Presentation 2010 TALK TO ME! Emergency Communications!

2. What Are We Going To Talk About?? • What is the Communications Center • What is it that we do • Important numbers to have • When to/not call 9-1-1 and/or Police • What information do we need when you call

3. What is the Communications Center? • The center is responsible for taking calls and dispatching personnel for both the Torrance campus and the Compton Center • Campus Police dispatchers are the initial contact from the public for the police department. • The dispatchers answer: • Incoming telephone calls from 10-digit non-emergency business lines • 9-1-1 emergency phone lines • Multiple police radio frequencies and monitor several non-police campus frequencies. • The Communications Center monitors other surrounding agency's radio frequencies for the purpose of providing mutual aide. • ECC Campus fire alarm system is monitored at the Communications Center.  • The police dispatchers also handle the records management function for the department by processing crime reports, citations, as well as other police record keeping tasks.

4. What is the Communications Center? • Staffing • Center is staffed: • 24/7 360 days a year • 4 Full-time • 2 Part-time • 4 Part-time Student Workers • Equipment • 12 Phone Lines • 4 9-1-1 Lines • 2 Support Lines • 4 Radio Frequencies

5. What is the Communications Center?

6. Statistics

7. Important Numbers • Torrance • Emergencies • Dial 9-1-1 • From any campus Cisco Phone • From any campus pay phone • Emergency Poles/Red Phone • Non-Emergencies & General Information • Dial 3100 • From any campus Cisco phone • Dial 310-660-3100 • From any other phones or off campus

8. Important Numbers • Compton • Emergencies • Dial 9-1-1 • From any campus Cisco phone • From any campus pay phone • Non-Emergencies • Dial Ext 2999 • From any campus Cisco phone • Dial 310-900-1600 Ext 2999 • From any other phones or from off campus • General Information • Front Desk Ext 2790

9. Examples of when to call 9-1-1 • When you see smoke or fire. • When someone’s life and/or property are in immediate danger • When you see a crime being committed • When rescue or emergency medical assistance is needed • When you are not sure • Call & let trained personnel decide

10. Examples of when not to call 9-1-1 • Buildings or rooms are still locked • Left belongings in buildings • Your computer is not working • Toilet is over flowing • Permit machine is not working • Unable to find parking

11. Who Do I Call If I Don’t Call 9-1-1 • Unless you need an immediate response to a fire, medical or police emergency call the Non-Emergency number at: • 310-660-3100 (Torrance) • 310-900-1600 ext 2999 (Compton) • Using the non-emergency number keeps 9-1-1 available for true emergencies.

12. What Will The Dispatcher Ask You When You Call 9-1-1? • All callers are asked a standard set of questions which will help the dispatcher prioritize your call • Provide the responding personnel with information before their arrival • The following are just some of the questions we may ask you:

13. What Will The Dispatcher Ask You When You Call 9-1-1? • LOCATION of the problem: • Where are you and where did the incident happen • This is important in case the phone is disconnected for some reason • Even though the 9-1-1 screen in dispatch should have the phone number and address of the phone you are calling from, the dispatcher will ask you the address where the problem is, as well as what campus you are calling from, to verify the information on the 9-1-1 screen. • You may be calling from an address other than the one where the problem is. • It is important to give any building names, building numbers, unit or suite number. • Be as specific as possible. Avoid using "left" and "right" as directions. This is often confusing.

14. What Will The Dispatcher Ask You When You Call 9-1-1? • NATURE OF THE PROBLEM: • Please use real language • Don’t try to use lingo or slang. It will only confuse the situation. • Just tell us briefly what is happening or what happened. • Is anyone injured? • Basic description of what occurred. • TIME ELEMENT: • When did this occur? • 5 minutes ago, 5 days ago, last year • Has it been going on over a span of time (hours, days, or weeks)

15. What Will The Dispatcher Ask You When You Call 9-1-1? • PERSON DESCRIPTION: • How many people are involved? • Race, sex, height, weight, clothing, hair color, facial hair, eyeglasses, hat, etc. • We like descriptions from the top to bottom, outside to inside… • What is “Top to Bottom”? Hat, hair, facial hair? Shirt, coat, pants, shoes – top of the person to the bottom • What is “Outside to inside”? Coat is on the outside, shirt is on the inside, T-shirt inside that – outer clothing first then to the detailed less visible clothing. • DID THE PERSON HAVE A WEAPON? • If so what kind • Was the person carrying anything else? • Where did the person go?

16. What Will The Dispatcher Ask You When You Call 9-1-1? • VEHICLE DESCRIPTION • Color, make, model • License plate number • Number of doors • Direction of travel

17. What Will The Dispatcher Ask You When You Call 9-1-1? • When calling 911, all you have to do is answer the dispatcher’s questions! • Stay on the phone and answer the questions as calmly as you can. • Sometimes it may sound as if the dispatcher is repeating themselves with the same questions but you may give more detail the second time. • There may have been something you've forgotten earlier. • Please don't become irritated with them. They are trying to obtain important information and to assist you. • We know anxiety is a terrible emotion, but try to remain calm when giving information. • Do not hang up until either the 9-1-1 Dispatcher or the on-scene Police or Fire personnel direct you to.

18. What Will The Dispatcher Ask You When You Call 9-1-1? • WHEN GIVING INFORMATION, DON'T EDIT OR EXAGERATE! • Give all the information that you have. • For Example: If you don't mention that the suspect was wearing a red hat because you don't think it was important, you may be withholding the single most important identifier in apprehending the suspect. • Emergency response WILL NOT be delayed by answering the questions. • In most instances, assistance will be dispatched while you are still on the phone. • By answering the dispatcher's questions, the dispatcher can relay important information to the units responding prior to their arrival. • This increases the chances of a successful outcome to the call!

19. Location, Location, Location

20. What If I Dial 9-1-1 By Mistake ? • DO NOT HANG UP! • Stay on the line and tell the dispatcher that you have dialed 9-1-1 by mistake, and that you do not need emergency help! • Anytime the police dispatcher receives a 9-1-1 "hang-up"; the location must be contacted to be sure that no actual emergency exists • An officer must then be dispatched to the address to check

21. Are Pay Phones Any Different? • You may dial 9-1-1 for an emergency at any pay phone • You do not need any coins • The phone number and location of the pay phone should show up on the 9-1-1 screen.

22. What About Calling 9-1-1From My Cellular Phone? • While we encourage people to use the cellular phones to dial 9-1-1 in emergency situations, people also need to be aware that location information does not appear on the Dispatchers screen as it does on a call from a landline phone. • Technology is advancing in this field • Very little information is displayed on 9-1-1 screen about the phone • Only the the cellular company provider name (i.e. Verizon or T-Mobile, etc.) and the phone number of the cellular phone, and a best effort location

23. What About Calling 9-1-1From My Cellular Phone? • Only T-Mobile calls on the Torrance campus come directly to us. • All others go to either CHP, Gardena, LASO, or Torrance and then have to transferred to us • System is based on the GPS chip in the phone as well as other factors based on the Cell Tower

24. What About Calling 9-1-1From My Cellular Phone?

25. What About Calling 9-1-1From My Cellular Phone?

26. Where Does It All Go…

27. 9-1-1 is the number to dial for the fastest possible emergency response when you needEmergency POLICE, FIRE or MEDICAL ASSISTANCE in a life or death situation

28. Questions or Comments • Communications Center • Torrance – 310-660-3100 • Compton – 310-900-1600 x2999 • Josh Armstrong • 310-660-6777 • jarmstrong@elcamino.edu