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The International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) Center for Public Safety Management was commissioned by Ocean City last year to conduct an in-depth analysis of the town’s emergency services dispatch operation as a result of the town “facing a decision regarding the future of this department,” according to the 18-page document.
While heaping praise on the town’s communications center and its structure and operations, the report reaches a stern conclusion that there is a “disconnect in communication” between the Emergency Services Department and the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD). The report was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by The Dispatch, and the ICMA presented its findings to the Mayor and Council in January in a closed session. A public reporting of the review, which was budgeted at $17,000 plus expenses, according to City Manager David Recor, is expected in the near future.
I listen to OC on the scanner on occasion. They need some jacking up as far as dispatching is concerned. They rarely if ever repeat a dispatch like the county does nor do they seem to be in any hurry to acknowledge whatever whoever is responding is saying to them. I've even heard them get downright snippity on the scanner.
ReplyDeleteThere dispatching procedures do need some attention but they do not need to be like Worcester County. Worcester County repeats the dispatch every one minute or so and does not even give the departments a chance to respond. The county needs to give the departments a bit of a chance for the FF's to get to the station and get on the road.
ReplyDeleteOC communications has a gender problem. They are all female. I know from a friend who drives a bus there. You will NEVER hear a male voice coming from them. They just are never considered. Further, if you really want to listen to the beat of the town, listen to the bus traffic. There's a gem there known as "FranK" that talks to the drivers as if they were dogs. I guess it's not too bad but the visitors (passengers) hear this and often ask "who is that jerk". The bus driver simply does their job and puts up with it. Maybe EMS should learn from this and quit their bitching.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Frank needs a tune-up
ReplyDeleteA lot of the same problems they have in the Salisbury Fire Department. Some of the same players.
ReplyDeleteI know the name. I've ridden on the OC bus many times. The other end of the radio was know as Frank the barbarian. It was mostly on weekends. Real jerk.
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