Los Angeles Police Department
Metropolitan Communications Dispatch Center

September 17th, 2003

A photo essay by Tracy Justus
www.freqofnature.com

Freq Of Nature is not affiliated with the Los Angeles Police Department. Please send any questions, comments or corrections to comments@freqofnature.com

The official Los Angeles Police Department website is www.lapd.org

Background [Source: lapd.org]

The City of Los Angeles is excited about the new high tech, state-of-the-art Metropolitan Communications Dispatch Center, which became fully operational as of January 2003. The City has constructed two new identical 9-1-1 Dispatch Centers in the San Fernando Valley and Metropolitan area of the City. Under normal conditions, both centers will operate concurrently with identical functional capabilities, each processing a geographically defined portion of the City’s call-taking workload. The project was funded with special bonds approved by the voters in November 1992, and was the final element of a major program to replace, upgrade and enhance the City’s massive emergency communications system.

The Metropolitan Dispatch Center was constructed adjacent to the current Police Department Headquarters (Parker Center) in the civic center. The Valley Dispatch Center was constructed in West Hills, near Roscoe Boulevard and Fallbrook Avenue. Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall (DMJM), a Los Angeles firm experienced in engineering similar facilities, designed the buildings. The firm is a subcontractor to TRW Inc., the Department’s systems integrator for the emergency communications system enhancement program.

Various building feature were programmed to ensure performance before, during and after a major disaster, including an earthquake of magnitude 8.3. The structural design includes a "base isolation" system to protect the building and its contents from ground motion generated by an earthquake. The critical building systems (water, power, mechanical, communications) are all supported by back-up systems. The building can function independently for a 72-hour period. But, the primary objective of the project was to design a pleasant and stress-reducing work environment for the Police Service Representatives (PSRs).

To provide a stress-reducing work environment for the PSRs (9-1-1 dispatchers) special consideration was given with regards to noise control, natural lighting sources, spacious work area and high vaulted ceilings. Each console (work area) has 4 flat panel computer screens with a mouse, individual air/heat control and additional lighting options. The PSR/ 9-1-1 dispatcher has the ability to work while sitting or standing. The computer panels can be tilted forward or backward to allow full visual range of the screens.

The two centers will employ the latest forms of internet and wide-area network technology to pool their call-taking resources automatically, affording Los Angeles citizens a significantly more responsive and reliable 9-1-1 service, particularly during busy hours (evenings, weekends and major holidays). The facilities, which are being constructed to last fifty years, will more then double the Department’s current capacity to handle emergency calls for service.

The center is home of the largest Division of the Los Angeles Police Department consisting of a Captain III, 4 Lieutenant II, 3 Sergeant II, 7 Senior Police Service Representatives II (PSR), 37 Senior PSR I, and 476 PSRs.

Links of Interest

Los Angeles Police Department official website
Southern California Monitoring Association (SCMA)
LAPD Radio Frequencies by Freq Of Nature
Los Angeles Police Department's Communications History by Harry Marnell


Welcome This is the foyer of the Metropolitan Communications Dispatch Center. The emblem on the wall was painted by an LAPD police officer.	Old stuff On display in the communications center is a collection of antiquated communications equipment that has been used by the LAPD.

More old stuff Audio recordings are stored on computer media instead of these bulky reel to reel tapes. With a minimum of seven (7) years of stored recordings they must have had one large file cabinet to keep these in.	A blast from the past A glass case containing photographs of old communication centers as well as photographs of the new building being built.

More old equipment Radios and MDTs previously used by LAPD.	More old stuff

New dispatch console The workstation computer is stored in the left cabinet and the right cabinet is free to use for personal items. The outside left and right flat panel screens are used to control the radios while the center two screens are used to type messages and display call information. Everything about the workstation is adjustable including the level of the desk, the level of the monitors and their angle. Each workstations cost is in excess of $60,000.	New dispatch console The slides sitting above the keyboard are used to control the work space environment including personal heat and air conditioning, lights and white noise level. The keyboards functions keys are labeled according to their use. There are two foot pedals on the floor that are used to key the microphone. There are two foot pedals so an instructor and a student can work at the same station.

Valley Dispatch Center The Valley Dispatch Center is MUCH smaller, as you can see from this photograph. Seriously, the Valley Dispatch Center will be equal in size to the Metro Dispatch Center and will be able to handle an equal number of calls. The Valley Center will normally handle all of the Valley Bureau as well as parts of the West Bureau (West LA and Pacific most likely).	Media Center The Media Conference Room is located on the 3rd floor and is situated directly above and over looking the dispatch floor. From left to right we have Gene, Michael and our tour guide Tashanda. The building is 54,000 square feet and sits on a bed of 24” springs allowing it to withstand the dreaded “big one” an 8.3 magnitude earthquake. After the “big one” the building, which has no gas lines, can operate for 72 hours without electricity. The high-tech white double paned windows in the background over look the dispatch floor and can be turned “on” or “off” with a switch. Someone had too much time on their hands to come up with the idea of integrating liquid crystal displays into a window pane. What will they think of next?

Communications Center Floor It was a challenge to take photographs through these windows because they look like someone had fogged them up with their breath if you looked in any direction other that straight forward. Auto focus doesn’t play well with double pane glass in front of the lens either. Oh, by the way, this is the right side of the dispatch floor. You’re looking at about Ľ of the entire floor. It’s big Big BIG!	Communications Center Floor He’s another quarter of the dispatch floor. I didn’t count how many workstations were down there but there were a lot. The room we took these photos from actually sits above half of the dispatch room. The high ceilings and windows create a less stressful work environment. Notice the "fog" in the upper left of the photo which is a result of the LCD windows.

Dispatch Consoles All of the dispatch consoles have the same functionality and they are arranged in various patterns. One dispatch console has a large fifth LCD screen that alerts the center to burglar alarms on city properties including the homes of the Mayor and City Council.	RTO in training Some of the consoles are manned by two people one of which is usually an experienced operator and the other a trainee. With about 500 operators in employment they are still short handed by about 200.

Dispatch Console The two center screens display the status of calls and allow text entry and messaging. The two outer screens operate the radios. Analog devices, pen and paper, are always at the ready. The black keyboard to the left is used to communicate with deaf people.	Dispatch Console

RTOs, ATOs, EBOs and BCCs There are three types of operators working the dispatch consoles. RTOs (Radio Telephone Operator) are responsible for keeping track of officers in the field. ATOs (Auxiliary Telephone Operator) handle alarm calls, service requests like tow trucks and talking to RPs (Reporting Person) on the phone. EBOs (Emergency Board Operator) handle calls through 911. In addition to these three there are BCCs (Bureau Communications Coordinators) who are responsible for the big picture in their bureau of operation.	Emergency Trigger Activation * Screen shot of what an Emergency Trigger activation would look like.

Emergency Board Operator Screen * .	Screen Shot * .

Call Ticker Not too busy...for now.	From the outside There are a few antennas decorating the roofs of the buildings around the Government Center.

Special thanks to Tashanda Fredrick of the LAPD for taking the time to show us around the new communications center and for putting up with all of our pesky questions.

Special thanks to Gene Hughes for inviting us to visit the communications center.

Special thanks to Rick Di Fiore, Rich Sauer and the rest of the SCMA folks putting it all together.

* Special thanks to Harry Marnell for providing the computer screen shots.

Los Angeles Police Department Metropolitan Communications Dispatch Center

Los Angeles Police Department
Metropolitan Communications Dispatch Center