Now fully staffed Lompoc Dispatch Center screening medical calls for possible COVID-19 cases

LOMPOC, Calif. - Police dispatchers have a tough job in the pandemic, and a now fully staffed Lompoc Dispatch Center is screening calls a little differently to keep first responders safe.

They are asking specific questions in medical emergencies. If dispatchers find a caller's answers match those of COVID-19 symptoms, they warn first responders about the possible case.

Then crews can properly protect themselves on the call. Lompoc police say that they are trying to prevent their first responders from getting sick.

After first responders are alerted to a possible case, "they can put on their personal protective equipment, whether it be the shield, the mask, the gloves, and try to limit any potential contamination they may have if someone is positive for COVID-19," said Captain Kevin Martin of the Lompoc Police Department.

Just in time for National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, the Lompoc dispatch center is also now fully staffed.

A full center has eight dispatchers. They have six trained workers and two trainees.

Dispatch training takes three to six months, and their two trainees should finish training soon.

"Prior to this weekend, there were times when we only had a single dispatcher working during the slow hours," said Captain Martin. "As of this weekend... we're able to put two dispatchers back in the dispatch center 24 hours a day."

The department says a fully staffed centers better enables them to serve the city.

Two thirds of their dispatchers are bilingual.

"That's a great asset as the majority of our community is Spanish speaking," said Captain Martin.

He said their dispatch center received over 79,000 calls in 2019. Around 20,000 of them were 9-1-1 calls.