We have 4 dispatchers working at all times. 2 police radio channels (our city is divided into North and South then broken down further than that into sectors). I suspect you have to take the 911 calls AND dispatch at the same time. We don't. Our call volume is really high. We have at least 5 911 calltakers on the phone 24hrs a day. They put in the calls, the call comes to the dispatch terminals, then the police crews gets sent. Fire and EMS have their own dispatchers.
I commend anyone that has to take the calls AND dispatch them at the same time!!!!! Because we get so many calls, that's not even feasible here!!! Most of our outlying areas (Northwood, Perrysburg, Sylvania, Oregon) take the calls and dispatch at the same time. We have more calls in a 1 month period than all of those areas combined. :yikes:
As for the fire hydrants..... the citizens grab wrenches when it gets hot and open them up for everyone play in!!!! Naturally, that causes a HUGE drop in water pressure in that area. We get 911 calls for open hydrants, then have to inform the water dept. so they can send someone out to shut them off. There have probably been quite a few houses burn down because of this..... They make some type of hydrant "lock" that requires a special tool to open, but the leaders of this city don't think it's that much of a problem. Um, yeah, 'cuz it's not a drain on manpower to go around shutting them off every day..... Sigh.....