Central Control, How hard is it?

[Dawg]

Like the title says. I am one of about only 5 Ofc's on my shift that can run Central control. I don't really think it is that hard or difficult to run this post. Granted you tend to get a lot of phone calls and every count change and bunk move goes through you. Not to mention making sure count is right every time.

So why is it only a few can actually grasp how to work this post? It is either Ofc's not being smart enough to run it. Or they show so much stupidity that they can't count a unit let a lone the entire facility. It may just be my old way of thinking. When I was coming up through the ranks we were made to learn and be able to run every post at the facility.

Now days all you have to do is show up to work and you get promoted. I am a firm believer that if you want to be a Sgt. then you should have to earn it not just have it given to you because there is a position open. So tell me just how hard is it to really run control?

[Dawg]

Originally Posted by Fed-Stevo

bubba, not sure how your control center runs, but if its basically like most other several thing make a good control room officer, most don't have them.

#1, must know priorities.
#2, must know what is important to the institution, not always the individual.
#3, must have thick skin.
#4, must be firm in dealing with incompetent staff.
#5, must know policy.
#6, must have "Well rounded" knowledge of all posts and there specific needs.
#7, must know how to manage time.

I can agree with everything you wrote Stevo. But how is it one can be so incompetent and still be a Sgt.? One would think you would have to demonstrate some job knowledge and decesion making in order to promote. Damn I miss the old days.

[Von Nanega]

Does it count that I have and can work it, but refuse to do so now?

[superman13]

Originally Posted by Fed-Stevo

bubba, not sure how your control center runs, but if its basically like most other several thing make a good control room officer, most don't have them.

#1, must know priorities.
#2, must know what is important to the institution, not always the individual.
#3, must have thick skin.
#4, must be firm in dealing with incompetent staff.
#5, must know policy.
#6, must have "Well rounded" knowledge of all posts and there specific needs.
#7, must know how to manage time.

I completely agree with Stevo in all aspects only thing I would like to add is making comand decisions and keeping a clear head in emergency situations

[KBCraig]

One critical skill is being able to process several things simultaneously, such as listen to several different radio channels and phone calls at once.

One thing that pisses me off is having a Control 2 who's never worked Control before, and engages in loud conversations yelling through the key slot while I'm trying to take count.

[cllingo]

#9 Must be able to "tell someone" and not ask them. If you have never worked control before, you will never appreciate the "coolness" a good control room officer has.

[Dawg]

Originally Posted by Fed-Stevo

#8, MUST be selfrightious and arrogant.

and here I thought my gleaming personality of being a richard cranium would have sufficed.

[gijanetexas]

County jail I threw a few keys, some cuffs, use the base radio, and opened electronic doors in control.

And the booking area had a whole separate control, too.

Period.

I came to the fed's with 14,000 keys, tools, badges, computers, count, answering the damn phone, etc, etc, etc...

I couldn't operate the old adding machine to do the key count properly.

So I gave up on the custody thing and became a slacker...LOL!

[USPOIC]

He said coolness. CLLINGO was I coolness in control? Many of time with you.

[shakedownshorti]

I loved working Control, even when I had to walk the fence and got bombed by the pigeons on a regular basis....I guess they kept track of my days off because no one else seemed to get it!!!