John_LewisRyan

Intro

Hook: Cascade of 911 What’s Your Emergency sound bites.

If you ever call 911, you’re probably in a bit of a panic, and don’t really care who answers as long as they answer quickly

Ambient noise from police HQ

Menlo Park Police this is John. (1. 05:00)

When a call comes in, John answers.

My name is John Murphy. I work for the Menlo Park Police Department. I am a dispatcher here. I have been in this field for 28 years. (1. 00:00)

Ambient noise from Police HQ.

Act I: Spring Romantic ideal

Call comes in: Language/Stress

Music/Hum of John and Office.

He takes the call. If necessary, he uses a 10-code language to dispatch patrolman. I have no idea what’s going on, but John explains,

There is a whole 10 code 11 code. He said 1186 means he is making a traffic stop in the 800 block of Sharron Park Drive. She recorded the location and told him to go to the licence plate. That is what he did and he gave a color of the vehicle he stopped. That officer just said I’m 10-8 I’ll be in route to Robert 50. 10-8 means I am done with what I’m doing and he is going to the other officer to help out. (1. 03:00)

Even when John’s not on a call, he is always “on”. His shift is always one call away from someone’s crisis.

You just don’t know what’s going to happen next. (2. 29.18)