Cincinnati's 911 system is housed on the third floor of police headquarters across from Music Hall on Ezzard Charles Drive.
Operators also handle outside calls for police and fire as well as internal calls for both divisions.
A computer routes 911 calls to operators ahead of calls to other numbers on the communications section's switchboard.
''911. What is your emergency?'' is the operator's standard response.
Usually, the caller's telephone number and the name and address of the subscriber appear on the operator's screen and become part of the computerized record of the conversation.
Most calls are answered within 20 seconds. Frequently, calls are not emergencies.
When it is an emergency 911 call, operators are trained to listen and ask questions until they know whether it is a police call, a fire call or both, and how urgent it is.
Operators use a seven-step rating system, with E, for emergency, the most urgent.
When a call requires a police or fire response, the call is coded for urgency and zipped by computer to a police or fire dispatcher across the room.
The dispatcher's computer indicates the message's priority, and each dispatcher sends help by radio.
The communications section has an authorized complement of 42 operators and 50 dispatchers. There are at least six vacancies.
Operators make $27,494 to $28,845. An operator can request promotion and become an assistant dispatcher. They are paid $29,376 and either move up or return to their earlier position after a year. Dispatchers make $34,429 to $37,057.
Dispatchers also work as operators when required.
