“What’s New in County 22?”
It has been quiet, with a few crazy spells depending on the weather at the office. I cannot wait for spring and summer to get here. I would like to remind everyone that this spring and summer is going to bring a lot of road construction to our area this year. There is the project at Highway 18/52 Froehlich bridge project which will alter traffic through Farmersburg. The city of McGregor will be doing their downtown project along Main St., and Highway 13 from Elkader South will have some road work done this spring. Those are the main ones I can think of right now. Please be patient and use caution.
This month in my article I would like to explain a little bit about our dispatch/jailers. Our dispatcher/jailers are the backbone of our department. They usually work 12-hour shifts, 4 hours of dispatching and 8 hours of jail duties normally. Some of their duties include using a computer-aided dispatch system, receiving emergency calls from the public that are requesting police, fire, medical or other emergency services. They determine the nature and location of the emergency; determine priorities, and dispatch police, fire, ambulance, or other emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures. They receive and process 911 emergency calls, maintain contact with all units on assignment, maintain status and location of police and fire units. Monitor direct emergency alarms, answer non-emergency calls for assistance. Enter, update, and retrieve information from a variety of computer systems. Receive requests for information regarding vehicle registration, driving records and warrants, and provide pertinent data. They monitor several complex public safety radio frequencies. They operate a variety of communications equipment, including radio consoles, telephones, and computer systems. A Dispatcher/Jailer’s responsibility is to watch over individuals who have been arrested and incarcerated. Typically, these individuals are awaiting trial, or have been sentenced to spend time in the county jail. They may also monitor inmate surveillance, transport inmates to court on occasion, monitor jail visits, maintain inmate paperwork, and perform general duties around the facility.
I could go on for another page about the diversified talent in our dispatch/jail center along with my deputies, secretaries, reserves and bailiffs. I believe every one of them has a different talent and interest that benefits this department and helps us. Law Enforcement is not just going out and writing tickets. There are a lot of different avenues in law enforcement a person can take an interest to do and assist the department.
If you have any questions, or comments, feel free to contact me anytime, e-mail me, or stop by to see me.
Thanks, and be safe,
Sheriff Mike Tschirgi