ECB MONTHLY APRIL 2021: MAGAZINE FEATURING MEMPHIS' 911 PROFESSIONALS

#WHEREISYOUREMERGENCY?

#911STRONG

APRIL 2021

ECB MONTHLY Official publication of the MPD Emergency Communications Bureau

Public Safety Telecommunicators Week celebrates ‘Heroes Behind the Headsets’ Are You Ready for PSTW ?

#ESSENTIAL WORKERS

MEMPHIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS BUREAU

ABOUT US We are one of the busiest 9-1-1 centers in the country.

We receive over 630,000 9-1-1 calls and more than 500,000 non-emergency calls each year.

ECB Monthly Mission This front-line led publication seeks to

The MPD Emergency Communications Bureau

inspire and motivate ECB telecommunicators by highlighting employee accomplishments.

(ECB) is the primary Public Safety Answering Point

The selected stories and content are

(PSAP) for the City of

shared with the intent to disseminate

Memphis; and the only provider of Law Enforcement

useful information about the Bureau, Memphis Police Department and the 9-1-1 industry as a whole.

dispatch services for the Memphis Police Department.

Furthermore , we aspire to increase transparency and communication

In 2018, the ECB met the national standard by answering 95.4% of our 9-1-1 calls in less than 20 seconds.

michael spencer emergency communications administrator michael w. rallings director of police services

between management and the floor; and improve overall employee morale.

ECB MONTHLY APRIL 2021 ISSUE NINE

TABLE OF

6 HISTORY MOMENT Pam Pope reflects on a 1983 Memphis Police horror story.

12 9-1-1 IN THE NEWS FEATURE STORY: Let's learn from the Pamela Cooper tragedy. This issue is dedicated to her memory.

contents

8

10

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

PSTW ACTIVITIES

PRD Eboni Atkins keeps the award on Bravo shift for two months straight.

Peep the line up for Spirit Week and enjoy throwback photos.

16 GETTING TO KNOW OUR COWORKERS

HEALTH & WELLNESS

MANY TALENTS: PRD Tiffany Grandberry is ready to sell you a home!

Many thanks to our co-workers that are prioritizing healthy habits, not just for themselves but for us all.

28

30

SEA OF BLUE

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PRD Ashley Reeves participated in the Sea of Blue processional in honor of officer Nicholas Blow.

22

Alpha Shifters T. Simpson and A. Neal lead the way on additional training. Learn about their experience in virtual classes.

ECB Monthly Team Mike Spencer, Chief Administrator Deranecque Rogers, Editor-in- Chief Erica May, Editor Sam Stamper, Contributor

APRIL 2021 | FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR'S DESK

MIKE'S MESSAGE MICHAEL SPENCER

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR

Still Getting It Done I can’t believe we are already three months into 2021. I want to start by saying thank you. I really appreciate the job that you guys are doing each day. I really appreciate our trainers and training staff that have been at this for so many years straight. We are on track to fill the rest of our vacancies this calendar year. I have been asking you to hang in there with us as we inch towards that goal and it looks like we will make it. As more trainees get released to work alone, we should feel some relief going into this Spring and Summer. Take time and welcome each of the new people. We have all been there and we know how much it means to get encouragement from a seasoned employee. You never know what kind of day your co-workers are having so don’t miss an opportunity to say something nice and supportive.

We completed supervisor interviews and I hope

MICHAEL SPENCER, ENP, CMCP "We are on track to fill the rest of our vacancies this calendar year. I have been asking you to hang in there with us.. and it looks like we will make it."

- Mike Spencer

to conduct manager interviews in the next week

This will provide additional space for the training

or two. Thank you to each candidate for applying

team and allow us to more easily work out of that

and putting yourself out there to grow. We

space. The break room will be refreshed during this

should see supervisor announcements in the next

renovation as well. Our 9-1-1 District is funding

couple of weeks. We have committed to work

that project and I can’t thank them enough for the

with the Union and HR on revamping the

support they provide to us on a regular basis.

promotional process to make it more comprehensive and clearly defined. We are pondering providing study guides, practice tests

We are also working with Memphis Fire on a joint

and scenarios for future applicants.

bunk area in the south apparatus bay. We are still seeking funding and support, but we hope to add

We have a couple of renovation projects in

some bunk rooms to accommodate staff when

progress and being planned. We are continuing

needed. MPD and MFD Communications would

to work on the second phase at 201 Poplar to

have a dedicated space to stay overnight when

combine the Tape Room*, Manager’s Office and

needed. It could be for an inclement weather

Administrator’s Office into one large

situation, or it may be because of a 16-hour shift

conference/roll call/training room.

with an 8-hour turnaround. We are still planning that project so I should have more information to share next month.

LOOSE ENDS I want to thank the Radio Shop and David Cupples for completing the light pole work at the Dispatch Consoles. We have been waiting for three years to get them hooked up and after the new radio consoles went live and we were finally able to complete it. We are working on an integration on the phone side next that will light up the green LED when you are on a call. I know these are little things, but hopefully you will find it useful. David has moved on to our next project to integrate the blue light with the console power. This will allow us to see when a console heater or fan is on when no one is sitting there.

We may get a longer life out of that equipment if we can power it off when not in use. I did receive confirmation that the heaters for the positions can be converted to the new heating system found on the four newest MPD consoles

CAD TECH DAVID CUPPLES

(BCT23-BCT26). Several of you voiced that they work better than the two smaller heaters pointing down. I am awaiting quotes for that retrofit.

National Telecommunicators Week is right around the corner. We know it will be different with COVID but I want you to know how proud I am to work with this team. Ten thousand (10,000) important decisions are easily made every day in our Emergency Communications Center. Four thousand (4,000) inbound phone calls, two thousand (2,000 )CAD events created and who can count how many radio transmissions you guys send and receive.

You are a great group and you are making positive changes for our citizens each day.

QUICK HISTORY LESSON *For those of you that are much younger than I am , it was named the tape room because they previously stored the reel to reel tapes from our legacy recorders and produced the cassette tapes of 9-1-1 calls for the courts and investigators from that room. We were storing calls on DVD’s by the time I was promoted.

APRIL 2021 I ISSUE NINE

ECB HISTORY MOMENT SHANNON STREET MASSACRE WRITTEN BY PAMELA POPE

In 1983, Memphis had the "Shannon Street Massacre". It started off as something quite routine (I believe it was something to do with a shoplifting or theft). Officers responded and one of them was wounded and escaped. The other was pulled into the house and held hostage. This standoff went on for about a day and a half with officers waiting outside while negotiators tried to get the suspect to release

PAMELA POPE Pam Pope started working for MPD Communications in 1979. She retired in 2016 after 35 years of service. Pam now works part time as a calltaker.

the officer.

The field lieutenants called Communications and asked that the same dispatchers remain on the radio that had been on the previous shift so they would be familiar with everything that had gone on. When SWAT finally went in, I remember the tension in the room while we were waiting to see what would happen. The next radio transmission we heard was:

FURTHER RESEARCH The Shannon Street incident has been heavily documented. A quick internet search gives more detail into the story. Many reports reflect that Memphis police officers killed seven

"There's no one alive inside."

The room was dead silent except for the sounds of everyone in Communications crying on each others' shoulders. At that time the dispatchers and the officers were quite close to each other. Most of the officers came to Communications to visit every time they were downtown. No one thought back then about the dispatchers being affected. Dispatchers

people at 2239 Shannon St. in 1983,

didn't have peer group counselors and things like

including the homeowner, Lindberg

that. Thankfully the City and Administration have

Sanders, after the police officer

realized that dispatchers suffer from traumatic calls

Robert S. Hester was taken hostage

as well and now offer resources to help deal with

and beaten to death.

those types of situations.

What is ShotSpotter? source: shotspotter.com

How does ShotSpotter work?

ShotSpotter uses an array of acoustic sensors that are connected wirelessly to ShotSpotter’s centralized, cloud-based application to reliably detect and accurately locate gunshots using triangulation. Each acoustic sensor captures the precise time and audio associated with impulsive sounds that may represent gunfire.

This data is used to locate the incident and is then filtered by sophisticated machine algorithms to classify the event as a potential gunshot. Acoustic experts, who are located and staffed in ShotSpotter’s 24x7 Incident Review Center, ensure and confirm that the events are indeed gunfire. They can append the alert with other critical intelligence such as whether a fully automatic weapon was fired or whether there are multiple shooters. This entire process takes less than 60 seconds from the time of the shooting to the digital alert popping onto a screen of a computer in the 911 Call Center or on a patrol officer’s smartphone or mobile laptop.

Police rely on the community to call 911 if gunshots are fired, but only 20% of incidents are ever reported on average. This creates a situation where police departments have a large data gap that makes it difficult to be able to effectively “serve and protect” when it comes to gun violence. ShotSpotter fills the gap with a network of acoustic sensors that can detect, locate and alert police to nearly all gunshot incidents. The system is in operation in more than 100 cities and is used by police to: 1) be able to respond to a higher percentage of gunfire incidents; 2) improve response times to crime scenes to better aid victims and find witnesses; and 3) help police locate key evidence to identify and prosecute suspects.

How accurate is ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection solution The ShotSpotter system is highly accurate at detecting outdoor gunshots. In 2019 the system had a 97% aggregate accuracy rate across all of our customers including a very small false positive rate of less than 0.5% of all reported gunfire incidents.

employee of the month

EBONI ATKINS

PRD Eboni Atkins has been with MPD Communications for eight years. She is a self described " shopaholic" and loves to travel.

How was training for you?

Training was stressful and I felt defeated most days. Most of my CTOs are still here. The ones who made the largest impact are no longer trainers. My favorites were James Coughlin, Metrica Spears and Karonda Kirkwood.

Karonda picked me up and dusted me off when I needed it. Metrica challenged me most of all and made me think about simple mistakes (reminds me of my sister, always willing to check me). James made me feel like I could do it. He made me do everything in warp speed and remained calm when speaking, even if it was a critical situation.

What is your most memorable call?

My most memorable call was a domestic situation.

We received a call about a male waiting outside his wife’s job with a gun in his lap. Officers were able to take him into custody and he was sent to jail. Unfortunately, when he was released, he shot her 17 times in front of her kids. It’s memorable because of how many domestic calls we receive.

It reminds me as a woman to always be on the lookout for those warning signs that are often times overlooked when dating.

What advice would you give to a new employee that seeks to be successful in this role?

Remember to breathe, stay calm and always remember if your family was calling you would want immediate help for them.

What is your all-time favorite work memory?

My favorite work memory is being released (being able to work alone for the first time) and working my first chase without the listening ears of my CTO. He called me on the phone to tell me he was listening and I did well.

Dispatcher of the Month: Eboni Atkins

Eb PRD Eboni Atkins aka "Eb", is a pretty exciting employee. She's attentive to what's going on in the Bureau. I am very appreciative of her work ethic. Eboni makes sure the Supervisors are aware of any high priority event. She makes sure every officer is where they should be when they should be there. She is also quick to help a neighbor and offer assistance. There have been more than a few times when I personally asked her to stay over at the last minute and she obliged - some times ‘voluntarily’ for 8 hours.

It's not just

the staying over. Eboni is dedicated. She's resourceful. She is committed. I am glad she was selected as Dispatcher of the Month.

~Manager Deranecque Rogers, ENP

WORK BUDDIES Eboni hangs out with Yolanda Avery, Ashley Boswell, and Shaneqwa Green.

They've dubbed themselves "The Awesome Foursome."

2021 Memphis Police Emergency Communications Bureau National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

APRIL 11-17 Sunday April 11 Represent your favorite sports team.

Tuesday April 13 Alpha: Girl/Boy Band Bravo & Charlie: 901 Day: Celebrate Memphis in your Grizzlies or Tigers Apparel.

Thursday April 15 Throwback Thursday

Monday April 12 Alpha: Tacky Day Bravo: Movie Character Day Charlie: Tacky Day Wednesday April 14 Alpha: Polka Dot Day Bravo: Western Wednesday Charlie: Twin Day Friday April 16 Wear your NTW tshirts and camoflauge pants

Saturday April 17 Represent your School High School or College

NTW throwbacks

9-1-1 IN THE NEWS

April 2021 Issue Nine

PAMELA COOPER

ECB Personnel Chime in on Headlines PSAP : PHOENIX POLICE COMMUNICATIONS BUREAU

THE EVENT

FRIDAY FEB 26 2021 20 year dispatcher Pamela Cooper returned to work after contracting COVID and being off work for six weeks recovering. She returned because she had run out of paid leave.

She was still not feeling well and was mandated to work overtime.

CAD messages show she told her manager she was not feeling well.

Text messages show she told her husband she was not feeling well and was having trouble breathing. She was concerned about being written up.

The next morning ( Feb 27) she collapsed at home. She was put on life support but never regained consciousness. She was taken off life support March 5 and she died.

THE AFTERMATH The City Council called for an independent investigation into the 911 Center.

The week following her death, the starting salary for dispatchers was increased by $3.10 per hour.

On March 10, her family filed a $35 million dollar wrongful death suit against the City of Phoenix.

The despairing situation that has occurred with Pamela Cooper isn't an uncommon thing in business practice today. Not so much the death directly due to overwork, but the need to put one's personal needs second to the needs of the company. Not only is there a scarcity of jobs that would match the income of a PRD, PRDT, or ERCO but also the process for applying is so different and tedious that the effort itself is exhausting. People who are serious about taking care of their families and themselves will often make personal sacrifices when considering the overall bigger picture.

ERCO Tremaine Vornes 2 years of service

I can say I haven't personally had such an experience in the Memphis Emergency Communications Department. I can't speak for anyone else, but I've witnessed the supervisors here cater to the needs of the individual consistently. Administration has taken considerable steps to accommodate mental health issues, FMLA requests, and sick parties as they came about. There is definitely a culture of company first, personal life second that creeps into most businesses or organizations that cater to customers or, in our case, citizens. In the end we all know what we've signed up for and its up to us, the individual, to make the final decisions about our health and well-being. I believe Mrs. Cooper assessed her situation and made a decision that led to unexpected results. Without a doubt, all of us aware of the unfortunate turn of events lament with her family over the most unfortunate loss.

- Tremaine Vornes

The Messages Tell a Story Pamela Cooper's last night at work.

Left: CAD messages between Dispatcher Cooper and her supervisor.

Below: Text messages between Dispatcher Cooper and her husband.

9-1-1 in the News: Pamela Cooper Jazmin Eley-Moore 5 years of service

Francisco Lozada 7 years of service I am saddened to hear this story and, unfortunately I cannot help but to see parallels with our department.

My own personal experience from working here has been that keeping a work-life and health balance is a very difficult thing to maintain.

I have missed several doctors appointments due to oversleeping or I've had to delay getting things done in the morning because my sleep schedule simply is not compatible with waking up early.

In regards to keeping a life work balance, I have found that In order to receive time off one must work doubles ( two shifts in one day) often in a row. Working two doubles in a row reduces ones sleep to six hours.

So in effect, if I wish to see my family, I am forced to chose to work multiple doubles in a row. I have lost a lot of sleep merely due to constantly changing my sleep schedule due to drafting or swaps and it has affected my health.

I regret that this employees's dedication led to her death and cannot help but reflect on the times that I, too, sacrificed my own physical and mental health for this job or due to this job.

While this is an unfortunate story, no matter how you look at it, I really hate that the heading or the way it was put into the news in general makes it seem as though distress from the job was ultimately what caused her death. She sent a message to her supervisor stating that she felt like she would die, and at that point, she should have been offered some help. That makes me feel uneasy because they could have very well moved on to the next person. I think it is also important to note that in her condition, she should not have returned to work.

I cannot speak for everyone, but I can say that I personally have never had an instance where I expressed to management that I was feeling under the weather or anything of that nature and they made an attempt to make me stay at work, or worse, work a draft. Management could have supported Pamela Cooper by being more conscious and concerning of her condition, in a way that would have offered her more than just some snacks.

The Phoenix Police Communications Bureau is comprised of over 265 civilian employees that work out of two separate 24/7 telecommunications centers.

In the year 2018, the Phoenix Police Communications Bureau answered just over 2 million incoming calls, which averages out to just over 5,700 calls per day.

Both centers answer emergency calls for service on 91-1 lines, as well as calls on the City of Phoenix NonEmergency line, called Crime Stop. Source: phoenix.gov

Phoenix Communications is Hiring Media outlets reported that at the time of this incident the PSAP was short 57 dispatchers.

Shelly Burrow 5 years of service

I was both shocked and saddened to learn that she complained of having difficulty breathing while at work, and didn't get the care she needed. She was either not given the opportunity to leave work or she felt dissuaded to leave for whatever reason. I am a 9-1-1 Dispatcher and am aware of the importance of my presence at work. I'm familiar with having to decide whether or not to work when I don't feel well. Often times, I will report to work and just leave if necessary. One should never have to choose between their life or work.

Shortness of breath is a life threatening emergency that we are trained to handle, and encounter daily. The same compassion that 9-1-1 Dispatchers show citizens when they are faced with an emergency is the same compassion that should have been extended to Mrs. Cooper. If she did notify her superiors and they did in fact do nothing, shame on them. There has to be more concern for employees, especially the ones who make countless sacrifices daily. Mrs. Cooper didn't need to go home, she needed an ambulance. God Bless her Family, Friends and Co-workers.

Realtor by Day, Dispatcher by Night TIFFANY GRANDBERRY

She may be a new real estate agent, but Tiffany Grandberry is not new to the real estate business. " I've had a hand in real estate investing for a while. I have been flipping houses and wholesaling. I reached out to a couple of friends that had their licenses and just buckled down and made the time to get it done."

The requirements were tedious and included: completing a 30hour Pre-Licensing New Affiliate class, a 60-hour Real Estate Principles Class, and passing the national and state portions of the PSI Real Estate Exam .

She started taking the required classes in early 2020, right before the pandemic hit. Due to COVID, the classes were postponed until July. She was still able to finish the required coursework in October.

Tiffany took the exam in November and passed. In January 2021, she became a licensed realtor.

She accomplished all this and her work as a dispatcher never suffered. She was even named employee of the month for June.

She states it took a lot of caffeine to complete her coursework, while working the overnight shift.

"If you're going to try to get a real estate license while working 911 , Alpha Shift is definitely the best shift to get it done. The call load is a little lighter than the other shifts. I was able to study the wealth of information I was given in between calls. It was a challenge for sure, working overtime and having class four days a week, but I'm thankful I was able to make it happen."

She's not slowing down now that she is licensed. When Tiffany gets off work from Communications, she goes into the midtown office and tackles her " To Do" list.

"Whether it's contacting five people or emailing one, I make a point to market. I have meetings most Thursdays and I try to schedule a few continuing education courses on my days off from Dispatch."

She has even sold her first home.

"I was super nervous . My broker guided me through most of it. But when we got to closing , I felt rejuvenated. I've closed many investment deals, but it was just something about that first deal as an official Real Estate agent that pumped my adrenaline. It's forcing me to come out of my introverted shell."

GETTING TO KNOW OUR COWORKERS

"I certainly want to shout out my Alpha Shift family for always encouraging me and promoting me after I became licensed. HUGE shoutout to former MPD Officer and Dispatcher , Tony Vuong for his encouragement, advice, and tips on how to pass the exam. And finally, my son Mason. For being so patient with his mother and for being my inspiration to keep going."

TIFFANY GRANDBERRY

TIFFANY GRANDBERRY| 45

APCO 2021, APCO International’s Annual Conference & Expo, is the premier event for public safety communications officials, from frontline telecommunicators to comm center managers to public safety communications equipment and services vendors. Starting August 15, APCO 2021 offers four days of educational sessions, committee meetings and special events, paired with two full days of exhibits.

When and Where Is It? APCO 2021 will be held August 15-18, 2021, in San Antonio, TX. The Exhibit Hall will be open August 16-17. Various hotels near the conference will be offering special rates to APCO 2021 attendees.

Who Attends?

Our conference attendees represent a wide range of organizations, including emergency communications centers, law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services, and government agencies, along with service providers and commercial vendors.

Why Attend?

Education: Attendees can earn up to 20 CEUs from 10 professional development tracks with more than 120 individual sessions focused on frontline telecommunicators, leadership development, comm center management, cutting edge issues, technology and more. Preconference APCO Institute courses offer more in-depth training.

Networking: Four special events (extra fees may apply) with engaging speakers provide an opportunity to learn, laugh and participate in industry-building activities with other public safety communications attendees and exhibitors.

Exhibits: More than 200 vendors, representing a wide range of public safety communications products and services, launch new products, provide equipment to test drive, and meet with attendees to discuss purchases or problems.

Involvement: Attendees can attend ECC tours, career advancement sessions, and healthy living seminars, as well as donate blood to a local blood bank. All attendees are invited to the general business sessions, and qualified APCO members can vote and attend committee meetings.

Fun: Attendees can meet and mingle at the APCO Block Party or tour the city with special discounts to San Antonio attractions.

How Do I Register?

Registration opens in April 2021 with Flash Day. APCO members who register on Flash Day get a $100 discount on their registration fees.

new co-worker alert

Welcome to Communications

PRDT CAMERON JOHNSON Start Date : December 7, 2020 Hometown : Memphis, TN

MESSAGE TO NEW HIRES Although this job is demanding, it is also rewarding. You are an asset to the Emergency Communications Bureau and to the City of Memphis. We are here for you during the overwhelming times that you are most likely to experience as a trainee. YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE. The Training Coordinator, CTSs, CTOs, Supervisors, and Managers will answer any questions you may have before, during and after your training. We welcome you and thank you in advance for your hard work and dedication. -SPRD M. Stiger FROM ECA MIKE SPENCER "Even if you are not a trainer, each new employee we hire is your co-worker. If they succeed and make it through probation, that puts you one person closer to that shift bid you want or that Christmas vacation you hope to bid for. You can help by being encouraging or just sharing a story of challenges you had when you were training. Being supportive and helpful is simple."

What inspired you to apply for the dispatch position ?

I have gone to school and earned 2 degrees in Criminal Justice. I always knew this was the field I wanted to be in, I just wasn't sure in which capacity. My dad, Patrick Twele, has also been an officer for MPD for 26 years and knowing that I'm making him proud makes everything worth it.

What do you think of the training program so far?

So far the training program has been great. I've definitely had days where it has gotten the best of me, but my class and my CTO, Ashley Reeves, have been more than I ever could've asked for in a support system..

What is your favorite part of the job? Least favorite?

My favorite part of the job is learning more about my city than I ever thought I could on the outside. My least favorite is the everlooming possibility that one day I can pick up that phone and it could be someone I love on the other end.

What is the most challenging part of training ?

The most challenging part of the training for me personally has been multi-tasking fast enough, but I know that will all come with time.

What have you learned that has been an eye opener for you?

What has been the most eye-opening for me is how integral dispatchers are in the Criminal Justice world. You never see all the parts of a machine, but if some were missing, it just wouldn't work.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work?

Outside of work I enjoy watching anime and reality tv. Pre-Covid I just wanted to be out all the time, whether it was seeing a movie, going roller skating, or even walking the Green Line.

The Webinar was a Hit! ICYMI: WIN WEBINAR One hundred sixty (160) 911 professionals attended the enlightening webinar on March 11 and 460 registered to watch it.

The recording is available at NENA.org View all past WIN webinars by clicking on the Membership tab > Women in 911 Alliance> Quarterly WIN webinars

Helping 9-1-1 Employees SUCCEED

PRESENTERS:

Deranecque Rogers, ENP

Margaret Stiger, RPL, CPE

Memphis Police Emergency Communications Bureau

Attendee feedback:

" Thank you. This is just what I needed to hear today. I have had to have thick skin due to hazing in my center. This has caused me to be angry, anxious and not my positive self. After this seminar, I can feel myself coming back down to who I am."

"Thanks for the great tips to take back with me."

"Such a fun give and take between the two presenters."

"This was one of the best webinars we've (NENA) ever had."

- Chris Nussman, NENA Communications Director

PREPARATION & PRACTICE Senior Trainer PRD Julia Robinson gives Manager Rogers and Supervisor Stiger tips to improve their presentation.

They listen carefully to her critiques and make adjustments.

“Proper preparation prevents poor performance.”

Stephen Keague “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” Colin Powell

SHOWTIME!

HEALTH & WELLNESS No Excuses! Workplace Fitness Options We invite and encourage our coworkers to join us on the

ECB STRUT Take a brisk walk around the Flicker parking lot.

parking lot after our shift ends to walk for about 30 minutes.

Health professional recommend we engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five times per week.

Whether you engage in vigorous exercise or a brisk 30 minute walk, it's important to prioritize better health. Linda and I started walking after work around the end of 2019 as we embarked on our journey of diabetes prevention through our health insurance plan with the City of Memphis. Through this walk, visits to the gym and better eating, we've lost a lot of weight and inches, gained energy and found a love for exercise.

We are almost two years in now! It is now April. The snow is gone and the tennis shoes are about to be strapped back on as we get ready to start our ECB Strut again. We give kudos to those coworkers/friends who've joined us on the parking lot.

Not only do you get in your exercise, but it's healthy fun and great fellowship. We look forward to seeing anyone who's interested in joining us for the "STRUT" Remember, staying physically healthy is a key component in the job that we do.

"Just keep moving!"

- Julia Robinson & Linda Hollingsworth, ECB Strut Coordinators

The work out room is coming together. PRDs Jesse McCord and Francisco Lozada took the lead on getting it up to par. They purchased exercise mats, rubber exercise bands, and weights. There are treadmills, stationary bikes and an elliptical machine for us to use. Showers and wipes are available and there are more exciting things to come.

See Jesse or Francisco for directions on how to access the gym or if you have any suggestions.

WORKOUT PHOTOS WANTED: The ECB Monthly strives to promote healthy living habits for our colleagues. Do you have any health tips? How do you stay fit? Send us your workout photos. We'd love to feature you in the magazine. Let's MOVE!

ON- SITE GYM

Workplace Fitness Options

GYM PHOTOS We may get bicycles to ride around outside too!

Let's keep our fingers crossed.

March 11, 2021

VISITORS Antonae Parker and Andrea Neil enjoy a break on the patio with their children.

KIDS

GO KATIE! 1. TAC Coordinator Katie Lipsey was featured on MPD's Facebook page for Women's History Month.

2. Katie Again!

Celebrating 25 years of service April 1, 2021.

3. Former PRD Cliff Catron brings his Air Force members to the

PSAP PICS PSAP for a tour.

ISSUE NINE

APRIL 2021

LEADERSHIP LESSON Inspirational, informative and motivational messages from our Bureau's leaders.

COMPASSION This news about Pamela Cooper is truly

SPRD Regina Webster

heartbreaking and has so many layers. Some may say, “Why did she return to work if she was still

As a supervisor I have a responsibility to the

sick?” I understand her decision to return to work

employees in my care. That responsibility entails

even though she knew she was not well. She had a

physically checking on an employee that expresses

family counting and depending on her. I am

that they are not feeling well. Then I must respond

saddened that she felt there were no other options

accordingly, regardless of staffing or the

or resources to help her during that difficult time.

employee’s resistance. I have sent employees home

We can speculate and point fingers all day long but

when they did not want to go but did not appear

ultimately it was her decision to return to work and

well. I have called ambulances for employees that

it was her decision to work her mandatory overtime

were resistant and I have gone to the hospital with

in fear of being written up. She surrendered to the

them and sat with them until a relative arrived.

pressures of life, unfortunately at the expense of

Some may say that is my job, but it’s also called

her health and life.

compassion. I said that to say, what if her supervisor would have made that decision for her?

In the CAD messages Mrs. Cooper said in response

That decision she could not fathom making on her

to being drafted, “I might die, but ok.” and “I just

own due to the pressures of life. We will never

came back from Covid for a month… I can barely

know. We will never know whether the outcome

walk or breathe. I will stay sitting :(“ I do not know

would have been different if she had been

the dynamics of that particular Communications

encouraged to prioritize her health. - RW

Center other than they were short staffed, had a hard time keeping employees and the employees were over worked. I do not know the character of the supervisor other than what is written about her responses through CAD messages and her messaging an ex police officer of questionable character.

SPRD Regina Webster is an evening shift supervisor and a 21 year MPD Communications veteran.

At NENA 2021, you will not only hear about the public safety issues of today and tomorrow, but also gain practical, real-world knowhow that you can take home with you and put into action immediately.

Featuring inspiring keynote speakers, more than ninety hours of breakout sessions that inform and empower, career-building courses and workshops with real-world applications, nightly networking events that help you make the right connections, and an Expo Hall showcasing cuttingedge products and services, NENA 2021 is the mustattend event of the year.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it!

Topics to be covered at NENA 2021 include: NG9-1-1 Planning, Management, & PSAP Impacts; Leadership & Professional Development; Applications & Emerging Technologies; Interpersonal Issues & Personnel Management; Text Messaging; Training; Geographic Information Systems & Data Management; Policy, Governance, & Funding; Accessibility; Public Education; Health, Wellness, & Personal Development; and Telecommunicator Interests.

Who should attend?

Anyone and everyone involved in public safety/emergency communications : 9-1-1 authority personnel; PSAP managers and supervisors; telecommunicators; dispatchers; 9-1-1 service providers; GIS and addressing professionals; telecommunications and network specialists; law enforcement personnel with 9-1-1 oversight responsibilities; public safety applications developers; managed services and cloud hosting providers; homeland security regulatory agency staff; state, regional, and local government officials

In Memory of

SEA OF BLUE

Officer Nicholas Blow 1983-2001

Written by PRD Ashley Reeves The Sea of Blue is a sad occasion for law enforcement across the nation. This memorial is dedicated to the officers that have lost their lives on and off duty. On March 18th, officers from the Tri-State area came together in honor of Officer Nicholas Blow.

While attending the candle light vigil two days prior, I was speaking with Lieutenant McDonald and I mentioned that I was going to show my support and watch the Sea of Blue from the precinct. He then asked me if I wanted to be a part of it and ride with one of the officers. I was ecstatic on the inside, but I held my composure well and I took him up on his offer. Officer Blow worked in 222's ward on Charlie shift. All of his ward partners, Charlie and Delta, attended in honor of him. I rode with Officer Miller and when we got to the starting point, at the Southland Mall, everything seemed so surreal. Seeing cars from the County, Mississippi, and even Arkansas was heartfelt. When something happens to one of their brothers or sisters in blue, they will come together as one and show their support. There was an outpouring of support from the community as we departed the Southland Mall. Many citizens and firefighters stood on the sidewalk with posters, saluting the officers as they drove by. We traveled Interstate 55 and proceeded onto Interstate 240. Once we exited the interstate, we rode through the entire ward of 222. If you know Raines Precinct, that is one of their biggest wards. During the whole route, blue lights and sirens filled the night. Once we passed the precinct, officers were instructed to cut their sirens and their blue lights off to pay respect to Officer Blow.

Being a part of something like that was an honor and it is an experience I will never forget.

RIH Officer Blow, your brothers and sisters in blue will take it from here.

Julia Robinson, Erica Morris, and Patricia Bullock attend the Homegoing Celebration of former PRD Kenasha Parker.

Payin g Tribute "Kenasha was my friend! She had a bold attitude and would "tell it like it is." But she would do anything for her friends and family. I spoke to her the day before she passed and I'm going to miss her."

-Patricia Bullock, Reserve Calltaker

APRIL 2021 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION CLASS REVIEW PUBLIC SAFETY GROUP Written by PRD Andrea Neil Andrea Neil has been a dispatcher for five years and works the overnight shift.

As I logged onto the Zoom platform for my first training course since COVID, the big bold letters on the PowerPoint were: HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION. My initial thought? “Dispatchers are never hostage negotiators, so why am I taking this class?”

Well …. on second thought, that’s not true.

We negotiate, in a sense, with citizens all the time. The definition of “negotiation” is (1) obtain or bring about by discussion and to (2) find a way over or through an obstacle or difficult path. Now, some of us have handled a hostage or barricade situation; but many of us have not. Here are my take-aways from the training course:

Have you taken a professional development course? We invite you to write a review and tell us about it. What did you learn? How was the experience? Would you recommend the class to others? Let us know!

Your tone is everything. We often go through the motions so that we do not even recognize anymore how nonchalant or insincere we can sound on the phone.

If you get a hostage call, it is more than likely going to be from someone with heightened emotions who could be extremely unstable. Do you believe your tone could provide calmness to this type of individual?

Active listening during a hostage negotiation is a little bit different than from a regular call where you are just jotting down the facts. In hostage negotiation, your goal is to keep the citizen on the line for as long as possible while gathering the 5 W’s (who, what, when, where, and why)? This is essential for officer and hostage safety. Listening for background noises such as the TV or additional voices can give an idea of what the environment/mood is in inside.

While actively listening, take note of what the caller’s demands or ultimatums are. But remember, NEVER make promises that you are not in a position to keep. It can cause you to lose trust with the suspect – something you might not be able to gain back.

Professional Development

TACTICAL DISPATCH CLASS REVIEW WRITTEN BY TARRASHEA SIMPSON I enjoy learning new things, so when Manager Rogers sent out an email asking who would be interested in learning more about Tactical Dispatch, I quickly responded.

She instructed us to take advantage of online FEMA courses to get a basic understanding of the Incident Command System (ICS); which is the foundation for Tactical Dispatch. After I completed those courses, I was enrolled in APCO's Tactical Dispatch course.

It was a two day online course from 7am to 4pm. Also in the class from our agency was Victoria Billingsley, Ashley Boswell, Linda Hollingsworth and Erica May. I enjoyed the virtual course. It was pretty cool that Manager Lovejoy allowed us to take the class from home.

I learned a lot of new information as well as built upon information I already knew. I liked that the course was very interactive. I get bored just sitting and listening to someone speak all day. I was able to meet people from different agencies and see how they handle situations. One of the ladies in my small group assisted with the recent event in Boulder and I was able to get a little insight on how they handled the event.

I feel that I will use some of what I learned when working details with large preplanned events. To my knowledge we have not had any major incidents such as an active shooter in quite sometime, but it was great getting information on how to handle it, so that in the event it does happen, we are prepared. Some of the situations we don’t experience here, such as natural disasters, but it is still great information to know because you never know what each day will bring. It is better to be proactive than reactive.

One of my main takeaways from the class is that no two critical situations or major events are the same. We should always be prepared for anything at any moment. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone that would like to become a tactical dispatcher. Remember, there are some courses that have to be taken independently prior to this one, so there is a little leg work to be done. The FEMA courses will give you a general idea of what a tactical dispatcher is, but the APCO class gives more defining information of what all it entails.

MORE REVIEWS...

The practical exercises and scenarios helped me see why extremely detailed planning and clear policies and procedures are required during critical situations. The effectiveness of law enforcement responses to these incidents can have a significant impact on the confidence of a victim, their family, and/or our community.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to attend this course and I highly recommend it. - Linda Hollingsworth

The class definitely had some valuable information that will come in useful during large scale critical events. However, the way the information was presented was extremely dry and it was challenging to pay attention. I believe this is one of those courses that is better suited for an in-person experience. The best part of the class to me was that we were allowed to participate from home. Would I recommend the virtual class?

No. Would I try it again in a live environment? Maybe. - Erica May

We Are Family

Editor's Note Deranecque Rogers, Editor-In Chief

just for you It's April already. This time last year we were seemingly adjusting

Speaking of doing things safely. I hope you are properly planning

to the stages of living during a pandemic. As I reflect on what

and preparing for an awesome week of celebration for 2021's

being at home then versus “having to be” at home now really

National Telecommunicator's Week! #NTW21. I know the

means, I have come to fully accept and comprehend the

creative and clever shift representatives are coordinating lots of

importance of resting and taking care of myself. We are essential

fun and entertainment for you. I've seen the list and I can

frontline workers and we are required to be at work; however, we

honestly say I am disappointed to miss out on the festivities. I did

are not mandated to work 7 days a week - we get 2 days off. On

have my outfits ready. Don't worry, I got you next year. Enjoy

those days off, we should be resting and rejuvenating our minds

celebrating you. Enjoy fellowshipping with your peers. Be safe

and our bodies. I, for one, did not take full advantage of my days off and sometimes did more than I should - I am paying for it now.

It is more important than ever now to simply sit down and relax our bodies. It is imperative that we meditate or read for our mental health, eat healthier foods and exercise for our physical health, and laugh and rejoice for our spiritual health. We must be patient with ourselves and others. Be cognizant of our thoughts, feelings, and our bodies.

I've read the article regarding the unfortunate death of Mrs. Pamela Cooper in Phoenix. As I read the article, I was saddened by the actions of her Supervisor. It was truly disheartening. If you are

doing so. Get AMPED UP! You deserve to be recognized and applauded!

As for me, I will continue to use my time away to rest, relax, and rejuvenate my mind, my body, and my spirit. I am not allowed to do much else for now. My son, my daughter, my mother, and my siblings and other family and friends are making sure I am resting.

I am blessed. I am grateful. I have the best support system in the world. My son and my daughter have literally been at my side and at my feet - I LOVE IT! I have truly been reminded that it is important to take care of yourself at all times. I've been reminded to focus on myself and

not feeling your best, be up front and honest about it. Put your

look out for those who matter most. Again, we are all essential.

health first. ALWAYS make YOU the priority!

That means being able to do what needs to be done. It also means knowing how to care for yourself and knowing the

I strongly encourage you to not take those RDOs for granted. Use

significance of putting you firs.

them as your reset button. Any time you are away from work, be away from work! (says the one working after surgery. Lol!) I am

Know yourself. Know your limits. Know what is important to you

counting on the world to be there for us to enjoy and to safely do

and make the most of it!

so real soon.

Be well. Be safe.

~ Deranecque Rogers Mentor applications should be in your email. Consider completing and submitting your application. Everyone has something to offer.

Leiser Webb and Linda Hollingsworth delivered tokens of appreciation to Lt. Halfacre for our Motor Ubers.

AMPED UP I am an MPD dispatcher. I am essential.

I do great things for my City.

I Answer the call I Make the decision I Provide exceptional service I Exceed expectations I Deliver and respond with a Universal understanding of Priority.

#WeAreAmpedUP