Dispatchers, History and Squad Cars…OH MY!

The second of 10 weeks in the Huron Police Department’s Springs Citizen’s Police Academy is in the books. The 13 men and women taking the course got a history lesson on the origins of the modern day police force from Captain Paul Sides and Beadle County Deputy States Attorney Jeff Banks. Banks went on to explain what role the police play in the legal system…

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Captain Dan Kight returned for week two to speak on patrol operations. Writing reports of calls attended is big part of what officers do and it’s important for the police to take a step back in order to make a thorough report…

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Dispatcher Phillip Van Diepen explained the Communications side of Huron Police Department. He says like officers, dispatchers may find themselves in court…

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Kight took the class into a light rain to get up close with a Huron Police Dodge Charger patrol car giving participants a chance to work the lights and sit in the front…or back of the car. Van Diepen showed the class features of the 9-1-1 dispatch center. During his presentation Van Diepen said a number of calls come into the 9-1-1 lines that shouldn’t. As proof of that, a 9-1-1 call came in while the class was present. The caller wanted a phone number from the dispatcher on duty because 4…1-1, cost to much money and 9…1-1 was free.  Next week the Citizen’s Police Academy get a look at various types of investigations and Department of Corrections