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Episode 126 is different from the rest. It’s the introduction to Within the Trenches – Imagine Listening, an extension of the podcast featuring stories from the #IAM911 movement. What you are about to hear are true stories. While some have good outcomes, the majority are horrifying. A warning…if you suffer from PTSD or have suicidal tendencies this episode may be a trigger. LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK.
This episode also touches on PTSD in 9-1-1 dispatch and a look at the dark humor that comes with the job. A shout out goes to Dave, Tim and Amy of Darkness Radio for having me on their show. Below you will find links to my interview and a shout out to Mike of Sword & Scale for having me on episode #82 of his podcast. As always if you have any questions or want to be a guest on show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.
Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship – Web
Sword and Scale – Facebook | iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Twitter | Web | Episode #82
Darkness Radio – Facebook | Twitter | Web | Interview – Hour 1 | Interview – Hour 2
Episode topics –
- Imagine Listening featuring #IAM911 Stories
- PTSD in 9-1-1 Dispatch
- Dark Humor
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Within the Trenches Ep 101
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Welcome to episode 101 of the Within the Trenches Podcast. Last week I posted the 100th episode of the podcast and in that episode I took a trip back in time to how everything started out and what’s to come. I played clips from episodes 1, 6 and 12 and I hope you enjoyed them because they were so much fun to record. Since that episode I have received many emails for the Sons and Daughters of Dispatch vinyl decals. Because so many people wanted a second round I opened up the vault and they are available once again. They will only be available for 2 weeks so get them while you can. They are 5X5 decals at $9.99 + shipping and can be found here. A portion of the money made goes to fund a scholarship for the 2016 National NENA conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Scholarship includes:- Complementary registration to the conference & expo
- Complementary registration for a one-day pre-conference course of your choice
- A $500 travel stipend
- Official Within the Trenches t-shirt
To apply for the scholarship make sure to go to thejabberlog.com/scholarship/scholarship.phpOn today’s episode I got to speak to dispatch trainer Eddie from St. Louis County, Missouri. Eddie shared his 911 dispatch story along with what it was like for him when he was working in dispatch during the heated situation that was the Ferguson riots. I must preface this by saying that no specific incidents are talked about because of open/pending court cases, but it focuses more on Eddie’s stress level during that time. Eddie attended many hours worth of stress management but nothing could prepare him for what he dealt with.This is a must listen so make sure to check it out and share! As always if you have any questions or you would like to be a guest on the show please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.Episode topics –- Eddie’s 911 dispatch story
- Stress Management
- Eddie’s stress level during the Ferguson riots
- Adele inspired apology from Mlive
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You had to go to McDonald’s didn’t you?
Ah high school, the good ole days. I had the greatest time back then. Sometimes I wish I could go back but if I did I wouldn’t be able to drink a cold one with friends or go and do whatever I wanted. Actually that’s not completely true. I was able to do that back then as well but I had to hide it. I had my own car, a job, and I was kicking ass at school. Things were great but school started to get boring and I was only a freshman. I had a lot of my high school years left but I was itching to get out and be somewhat of a rebel. The opportunity came one day and I took it. I was going to skip school for the first time and it was perfect. I went with a group which included my cousins, Steve, Amanda, Mary Beth, and my girlfriend Meredith. We had planned on leaving just before lunch time so that we could drop off Mary Beth’s car at her home and then we would take Steve’s Avenger to Holland to see his girlfriend, eat, and return to school without anyone ever knowing we were gone. What could go wrong?
The time had come and we took off. The feeling was liberating and being bad felt superb! We dropped Mary Beth’s car off at her home and we were off. We listened to music at max volume and let the bass flow from Steve’s sound system. We laughed and joked about what we had done and we were the shit. Everything was going according to plan and we made our way to Holland High. We parked on the side of the school and waited for Steve’s girlfriend to come out. While waiting we listened to music and chilled. As we enjoyed our time the school’s Resource Officer walked up and asked what we were doing and what school we were from. So being the good kids that we were we told him the truth. We said we were from Saugatuck High School, but actually from Fennville, and gave our names. The Officer said he was going to make a phone call and for us to wait. As he rounded the corner we hauled ass. It was great but it was the beginning of our downfall.
It was time to find a place to eat lunch and head back to school. We had hit a speed bump with the officer but got away free and clear. We had come up to a four way stop and I remember telling Steve to slow down and he went right through it. Thank god there were no cars coming because we would have been done for. The good time was getting a little weird with the second speed bump in our adventure. We brushed it off and suggested Burger King for lunch but stubborn ass Steve wanted to go to McDonald’s. He was driving so we had no choice. We went to the McDonald’s on S. Washington in Holland, got our food, and sat down to eat. Despite the minor setbacks we were still kings and queens.
The line at the drive thru was getting long and we were getting ready to leave. We basked in our triumph and I glanced to the right. My smile disappeared and I went numb. What I saw almost made me pee my pants. In the drive-thru sat my mother and father. They were laughing and smiling and my father looked to the left and his smile disappeared and he squealed out of the line. I was screwed! I panicked and told everyone that my parents saw us and Mary Beth immediately told me to run and hide in the bathroom. I told her that there was no point since we had been already spotted and in came my mom. We told her that we had come up for lunch but she was pissed! She said that she was going to tell their parents and she took me away. It was a slow walk to the car where my father sat. I swear I could hear someone yelling, “Deadman walking” and they took me back to school. I sat there as my parents tore me a new asshole.
We got to the school and I apologized for what I had done. I walked up to the front doors and I noticed a second shadow next to me. I looked to the right and there was my dad. I asked what he was doing and I remember him saying, “I’m making sure your ass stays in school”. We walked in and he stopped as I passed the principals office.
“Where are you going?”
“Um…I’m going back to class dad.”
“No, get your ass back here.”
We went into the office and my father asked for Mr. Rummer. We were told to walk in and the door slammed behind me. I began to sweat and I was sure I was going to punish my pants with a frightened log.
“How can I help you Mr. Martinez?”
“Tell him what you did Rich.”
“Um…my parents caught me skipping. I’m sorry Mr. Rummer.”
“Oh, your a good kid Rich. I appreciate you telling me, just don’t do it again.”
“That’s all,” my dad asked.
“Uh…well…who was all with you Rich?”
I was put on the spot and I had to give up who was with me. In the end the principal gave all of us six hours of detention. If we had only gone to F’ing Burger King we might have made out like bandits but we were caught. I lost my Camaro for a month or so and it sucked. I could say that I learned my lesson but I would be lying. Let’s just say I was never caught again. It was good times and if I had to do it again I would do it in a heartbeat but our asses would go to F’ing BK!
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Within the Trenches Ep 172
Welcome to another episode of Within the Trenches, true stories from the 9-1-1 dispatchers who live them. Episode 172 features Jennifer, Training Officer/Alternate Supervisor at Escambia County Public Safety, Florida.News story – Time.com
Episode topics –
- Podcast appearances
- Jennifer’s 9-1-1 Story
- Taking calls from those you know
- Calls that stick
- A 9-1-1 call from Jennifer’s daughter
- Broward County, Florida – School shooting
As always if you have any comments, questions, topic suggestions or you would like to be a guest, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com
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HI Ricardo,
I’ve listened to a couple of your podcasts now. Thanks for helping to bring attention to the battle to change our job description. When APCO put out the word, I posted a story and forwarded the links on my social media pages. I first started dispatching in 1981 (ems) after learning to work to the radio to cover in dispatch (I was an EMT) and changed to 911 in 1987. Seen some changes over the years. Had some real nasty calls during my career. I even wrote a book about the profession (“What is your emergency? The history of Public Safety Dispatching in America”).
One of my busiest shifts, I handled simultaneous in-progress evens by myself: a barricaded subject on my main channel and a demonstration on my secondary. I’ve worked shifts where I ran back & forth from the bathroom (had a massive migraine but was by myself), had to deal with the passing away of my mother-in-law (again, by myself), and dealt with more craziness (spent 14 of my years in Berkeley – CA- than I can remember). I now handle LE for a wildlife department. A different type of stress.
Keep up the good work on our behalf.
Diana Sprain
http://www.dianasprain.net/
I heard about you through S&S.; I get it. I do. I have been an Animal Control officer for nearing 20 years. I work in conjunction with Police at accident scenes, death scenes, search warrants/dynamic entry, responding to animal incidents of aggression and vehicle collision. We work alone handling calls that can be dangerous, heated and emotional.
I have taken animals from long term death of Humans, suicides of owner and owner and pet. I have aided and been with animals as they die on our roadways, providing a pet the comfort of Human compassion so they do not die alone and scared. I deal with where Humans have failed their pets and only to be called “Nazi” or “dog killer”. All the while I feel there is not a better person who could do this job.
PTSD, I am not sure as I learn to compartmentalize my work. Maybe. On my days off, I don’t really want to be social outside of my home, I am but I have to push myself to do it. I get questions like you describe about the bad stuff. Too much to list really as the Human and animal tragedy intertwine.
Dark humor? Sure. It’s a coping mechanism. If I didn’t make light of what I see, it would eat me up, I think.
I tell those new to this job that there is no finish line. You will not be able to stand back and look over a job well done. It will be the same thing happening everyday for the duration of your career. Many of things will be stressful and emotional. Regards.