Free PSD Geographical Mapping and Jurisdictional Knowledge Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A major incident requires resources from several neighboring cities. The agreement that allows these agencies to assist each other across jurisdictional lines is known as:
- A Jurisdictional Transfer
- A Reciprocal Response Pact
- A Mutual Aid Agreement (Correct answer)
- An Inter-Agency Mandate
Correct answer: A Mutual Aid Agreement
A Mutual Aid agreement is a formal, pre-arranged pact between two or more agencies to provide personnel, equipment, and other resources to one another during a major emergency. This ensures a coordinated and efficient response when an incident overwhelms the capacity of a single agency.
Question 2: Why is it essential for a dispatcher to have a thorough knowledge of their agency's beat, zone, or district boundaries?
- To ensure the closest and most appropriate unit is dispatched. (Correct answer)
- To provide citizens with accurate directions.
- To decide which supervisor needs to be notified.
- To calculate the fuel costs for each response.
Correct answer: To ensure the closest and most appropriate unit is dispatched.
Knowing the specific response boundaries is critical for dispatching the correct and closest unit. Sending a unit from the wrong beat can delay response times to the current incident and leave their assigned area uncovered, potentially delaying response to a subsequent call in that area.
Question 3: If a dispatcher receives a 9-1-1 call for an incident that is clearly within a neighboring city's jurisdiction, what is the proper procedure?
- Tell the caller to hang up and dial the non-emergency number for that city.
- Dispatch a unit from their own agency to the location.
- Obtain essential information and transfer the call to the appropriate agency. (Correct answer)
- Take all the information and then call the other agency on their behalf.
Correct answer: Obtain essential information and transfer the call to the appropriate agency.
The standard procedure is to obtain the critical information (location, call type, caller's number) and then transfer the caller to the correct agency. This ensures the caller doesn't have to repeat information and that the responsible agency is notified without delay. Simply telling the caller to hang up and redial is incorrect as it delays help.
Question 4: In the 9-1-1 system, what is the functional difference between a Primary PSAP and a Secondary PSAP?
- The Primary PSAP is in a city, while the Secondary PSAP is in a rural area.
- The Primary PSAP handles emergencies, while the Secondary handles non-emergencies.
- The Primary PSAP initially answers the 9-1-1 call; the Secondary receives transferred calls. (Correct answer)
- The Primary PSAP has more staff than the Secondary PSAP.
Correct answer: The Primary PSAP initially answers the 9-1-1 call; the Secondary receives transferred calls.
A Primary PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) is the first point of reception for 9-1-1 calls. A Secondary PSAP is a facility that receives calls transferred from a Primary PSAP, such as a dispatch center for a specific service like the fire department, emergency medical services, or the state police.
Question 5: A caller reports an incident 'at the big clock tower in the town square.' In dispatch terms, the clock tower is being used as a:
- Jurisdictional Marker
- Common Point of Reference (CPR) (Correct answer)
- Geographic Information System (GIS) Node
- Address Verification Point (AVP)
Correct answer: Common Point of Reference (CPR)
A Common Point of Reference (CPR) is a well-known landmark or location that is easily identifiable by the public and responders. Using CPRs is an effective technique to pinpoint a location when a specific street address is unknown or not applicable, such as in a park or large public area.
Question 6: What does the term 'hundred block' refer to in the context of locating an address?
- The first 100 addresses in a new subdivision.
- A list of the 100 most common call locations.
- The numerical range of addresses on a street between two intersections. (Correct answer)
- A police beat that is exactly 100 square blocks.
Correct answer: The numerical range of addresses on a street between two intersections.
The 'hundred block' is a standard method for describing a location. It refers to the block of addresses on a street that fall within a specific hundred-series range (e.g., the 1400 block of Main Street includes addresses from 1400 to 1499). This helps responders quickly narrow down the location of an incident between two cross-streets.
Question 7: An Automatic Location Information (ALI) database provides the dispatcher with the:
- Caller's name and billing information.
- Geographic location/address of the caller. (Correct answer)
- Make and model of the caller's phone.
- Criminal history associated with the phone number.
Correct answer: Geographic location/address of the caller.
The ALI database is a critical component of the 9-1-1 system that links the caller's phone number (the ANI) to a physical address or location. This information is automatically displayed on the dispatcher's screen, providing the geographic location associated with the landline or the registered/estimated location of a wireless phone.
Free PSD Geographical Mapping and Jurisdictional Knowledge Questions and Answers 1
A major incident requires resources from several neighboring cities.
The agreement that allows these agencies to assist each other across jurisdictional lines is known as: