CED Case Analysis & Practical Application 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A caller reports seeing a person with a weapon near a school. The caller is hysterical and speaking rapidly. What is the dispatcher's priority?
- Calm the caller to extract accurate location and weapon description (Correct answer)
- Immediately patch the caller through to school security
- Dispatch SWAT before gathering any further information
- Ask the caller to take a photo and send it in
Correct answer: Calm the caller to extract accurate location and weapon description
Calming the caller improves information accuracy, enabling a precise and proportionate response to the school threat.
Question 2: During a large-scale emergency, a dispatcher's CAD system crashes. What is the correct course of action?
- Switch to manual logging procedures and notify a supervisor immediately (Correct answer)
- Stop accepting calls until the system is restored
- Ask callers to call back later
- Continue dispatching from memory without documentation
Correct answer: Switch to manual logging procedures and notify a supervisor immediately
Manual backup procedures maintain documentation integrity and service continuity; supervisor notification triggers IT response protocols.
Question 3: A caller reports a vehicle in the water with occupants possibly inside. Which resource should be dispatched in addition to police and EMS?
- Water rescue or dive team (Correct answer)
- Hazardous materials unit
- Animal control unit
- Traffic management unit only
Correct answer: Water rescue or dive team
Submerged vehicle incidents require swift water or dive rescue teams with specialized equipment to safely extract trapped occupants.
Question 4: An off-duty officer calls dispatch to report witnessing a crime. How should the dispatcher treat this call compared to a civilian caller?
- Treat it with equal urgency but verify badge number before routing resources (Correct answer)
- Automatically dispatch maximum resources because the caller is a law enforcement officer
- Treat it as lower priority since the officer can handle it personally
- Transfer the call directly to the watch commander without dispatching
Correct answer: Treat it with equal urgency but verify badge number before routing resources
Verifying credentials ensures authenticity while treating the call with appropriate urgency regardless of the caller's stated occupation.
Question 5: A caller reporting a gas leak states they smell gas inside a multi-unit apartment building. Which instruction should the dispatcher give FIRST?
- Advise the caller to evacuate the building immediately without using electrical switches (Correct answer)
- Tell the caller to open windows to ventilate before evacuating
- Ask the caller to locate the gas meter and shut it off
- Instruct the caller to alert neighbors by ringing doorbells
Correct answer: Advise the caller to evacuate the building immediately without using electrical switches
Immediate evacuation without activating electrical devices prevents ignition of accumulated gas and protects lives.
Question 6: A dispatcher receives a 911 call but hears only silence after answering. What is the standard protocol?
- State the agency name, ask if help is needed, and attempt to trace the location (Correct answer)
- Disconnect after 10 seconds of silence
- Place the call on hold for one minute before disconnecting
- Transfer immediately to law enforcement without saying anything
Correct answer: State the agency name, ask if help is needed, and attempt to trace the location
Identifying the agency and soliciting a response allows a potentially distressed caller to signal need while ANI/ALI data is gathered.
Question 7: While handling a cardiac arrest call, a second line rings reporting a nearby structure fire. How should the dispatcher manage both calls?
- Transfer the cardiac arrest call to a co-dispatcher while initiating fire dispatch protocol (Correct answer)
- Place the cardiac arrest call on hold and handle the fire call first
- Handle both calls simultaneously on the same line
- Ignore the second call until the cardiac arrest call is resolved
Correct answer: Transfer the cardiac arrest call to a co-dispatcher while initiating fire dispatch protocol
Transferring to a co-dispatcher ensures both life-threatening events receive dedicated, uninterrupted dispatcher attention.
CED Case Analysis & Practical Application 3
A caller reports seeing a person with a weapon near a school.
The caller is hysterical and speaking rapidly.
What is the dispatcher's priority?