Tactical Dispatch - What is it?

Well, there really is no easy answer to what Tactical Dispatching is all about, mainly because it is something that is able to be tailored to any Police Department, to use as it best suits them.

It is important to know how someone becomes a Tactical Dispatcher before getting too far into what it is they actually do.  There is a 40-hour P.O.S.T. class which is put on from time to time all throughout California.  This class covers information like SWAT terminology, diagramming, includes knowledge of command and tactical procedures, Command Post Operations, proper documentation, information gathering, the use of different forms and logs, etc.

There is also a 24-hour Advanced Tactical Dispatch Course which reviews the basic class, which includes a refresher of the basic course, case studies of some critical incidents, review and updated use of logs, forms, etc.

Tactical Dispatching is using dispatchers at the scene of a critical incident to gather, document and disseminate information, which in turn allows the Commanders to focus more clearly on the task at hand and the ultimate safe resolution of the incident.

That is the book answer, but the real answer is that it can be many different things, depending on how your department wants to set up the Tactical Dispatch Team.Board

In terms of gathering information, it is the Public Safety Dispatcher who is the first point of contact for just about any citizen who calls into the police department.  Gathering information is second nature to dispatchers, it is what we do and it comes naturally to us.  During a critical incident, one form of information gathering that might be done by a Tactical Dispatcher would be to collect information on a suspect or suspects, if their names are known to the police.  This can be done several different ways, including checks in CAD and other records types of checks. By having the dispatcher do this from inside the Communications Center and then respond to the scene of a critical incident, it saves one of the most important things there is in the first hour of an incident, it saves TIME!   The dispatcher can run all of the checks and upon arriving at the scene hand over a wealth of information which may be used to help commanders in the field in their decision making process.

When talking about documenting information, Tactical Dispatchers every single day are proving themselves to be invaluable.  There are a variety of logs, forms, charts, etc. which can be implemented and displayed for Command staff and SWAT members upon their arrival, and Tactical Dispatchers are taught how to do those types of tasks.   Some agencies use their Tactical Dispatchers to diagram the scene of an incident, including plotting the movements of all inner-perimeter, outer-perimeter, SWAT members, HNT teams, snipers, etc.  Everything is kept visually so the commanders can have all information available to them with just the glance at the chart.  Some Tactical Dispatch teams completely relieve the incident from the Communications Center,  both in terms of the chronological log on CAD and all radio traffic, thus relieving those individuals inside the Communications Center to carry on other tasks as assigned.  

In terms of disseminating information, it could be left to the Tactical Dispatcher to brief oncoming personnel, to answer questions related to the overall scene when requested to do so, to brief the media, etc.  

The bottom line is Tactical Dispatching is whatever your agency wants it to be.  And it is a fluid, ever changing entity.  What started out one way may not work forever, and Tactical Dispatchers are able to vary the way they do business.  Some agencies employ a team of 1 Tactical Dispatcher, using a pencil and pad of paper, writing on the top of a patrol car which is being used as the Command Post.  Some agencies send up to 10 Tactical Dispatchers to the scene of a critical incident and use them in other, various ways.  

Tactical DispatcherIf you are a SWAT or HNT Commander reading this, know that the program is whatever you and your team determine they want it to be.  Agencies all over the state, and country for that matter, are employing dispatchers in the role which they truly are the subject matter experts, and leaving the officers and Community Service Officers available to do things which better suit them during a critical incident.  If you would like a demonstration of Tactical Dispatch at work, click here, and our Outreach Team will get back to you.  If your agency doesn't have a team, the question you have to ask yourself is, 'Why not?'  Dispatchers are highly trained, flexible, and eager to help during a critical incident.  Why not have the subject matter experts on your team to assist you in doing the best job possible.

If you are a Communications Manager or Supervisor reading this, first of all, good for you.  It is exciting when management seek out other opportunities for dispatchers, as we all know there aren't many once in the field.  The questions you are probably asking are really, universal in nature and they are, 'How much is it going to cost me' and 'How will it affect staffing'.  Truth be told, you don't need to start with a team of 10 who respond to the scene.  You also don't need to start with a $400,000 Command Vehicle to make this work.  One Tactical Dispatcher with a pen and paper will go a long way to improving the way your department does business.  If you would like to see how this could benefit your department, your Communications Center and maybe more importantly, YOUR staff, click here.

If you are a dispatcher wanting more information on implementing a team with your agency and would like more information on the next step to take, click here.  One of our Regional Directors will be in touch to work something out and help you in any way we can.

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