West Bend Police Department Communications Center
The West Bend Police Department operates a communications center which handles all of the 911 calls from city residences, the communications for the Police and Fire Departments, along with numerous other vital functions of the Police Department.
West Bend Communications Center Staffing and Organization
The Communications Center or Dispatch, as it is known by almost everyone, is staffed and operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Currently the Communications Center it is staffed by nine dispatchers with three dispatchers assigned to each of the three patrol shifts. The dispatchers work the same hours and rotation as the Police Officers and Patrol Supervisors, working 8 ½ hour shifts on a 5/2- 5/3 rotation. This means that the dispatchers work 5 consecutive days followed by 2 days off and then they again work 5 consecutive days followed by 3 days off.
Each shift is supervised by the Patrol Supervisors or Watch Commanders. On each shift there is a Patrol Lieutenant and two Patrol Sergeants. Each of these supervisors directly supervise and evaluate an individual dispatcher who has the same day off rotation. This allows for consistent supervision and accountability throughout the year.
Within the Communications Center, the dispatchers receive and respond to emergency calls including enhanced 911 and non-emergency calls from the public, dispatchers, and law enforcement agencies via telephone and radio systems and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems.
To see their entire job description, read the section below which is from the West Bend Police Department Policy Manual or you can click here to read a memo from Chief Kenneth Meuler to Mayor Kraig Sadownikow giving a full description of the various duties as well as other considerations surrounding consolidated dispatch. This is the same memo that Washington County Board Chairperson Herb Tennies called pathetic during citizen comments at the Common Council Meeting on October 15, 2012. Read it for yourself and you be the judge.
Currently the Communications Center it is staffed by nine dispatchers with three dispatchers assigned to each of the three patrol shifts. The dispatchers work the same hours and rotation as the Police Officers and Patrol Supervisors, working 8 ½ hour shifts on a 5/2- 5/3 rotation. This means that the dispatchers work 5 consecutive days followed by 2 days off and then they again work 5 consecutive days followed by 3 days off.
Each shift is supervised by the Patrol Supervisors or Watch Commanders. On each shift there is a Patrol Lieutenant and two Patrol Sergeants. Each of these supervisors directly supervise and evaluate an individual dispatcher who has the same day off rotation. This allows for consistent supervision and accountability throughout the year.
Within the Communications Center, the dispatchers receive and respond to emergency calls including enhanced 911 and non-emergency calls from the public, dispatchers, and law enforcement agencies via telephone and radio systems and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems.
To see their entire job description, read the section below which is from the West Bend Police Department Policy Manual or you can click here to read a memo from Chief Kenneth Meuler to Mayor Kraig Sadownikow giving a full description of the various duties as well as other considerations surrounding consolidated dispatch. This is the same memo that Washington County Board Chairperson Herb Tennies called pathetic during citizen comments at the Common Council Meeting on October 15, 2012. Read it for yourself and you be the judge.
