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PART IV. PROGRAM NARRATIVE. The followiny suggested format is provided for use with applications for criminal justice funds. For specific deta il see Instructions, Part IV, Program Narrative, Attachment M, "Uni form Grant & Contract r.1anagement Standards". 1. OBJECTIVES AND NEED FOR THIS ASSISTANCE. Brief and concise summary of the background and nature of the problem. Include specific data and cite sources. The San Marcos Police Communications system consists of three shift personnel and one relief d:i.spatcher. The office is in operation 24 hours daily and is the largest and most complex ( ~unications system in the county. It is housed with twelve telephone lines, one telecommunica' 1 ns computer, fifty two direct line alarm systems, a radio operated paging system and four :..~~io channels. The radio console handles communication needs for several agencies. Not only is the dispatcher responsible for the San Marcos Police units but communicates with the Fire Department, Hays County EMS, The SWTSU Police Department, the Texas Highway Patrol and local TABC personnel. San Marcos Public Works personnel also communicate with the dispatcher but on a les~ frequent basis. In addition to the normal calls for service, the dispatcher takes all the telephone calls into the department. This includes administrative calls gnd calls for Cr~inal Investigations. The duties of the dispatcher can become quite complex, diyerse and sometimes impossible. The City of San Marcos itself has grown drastically in both population and area since 1970. Southwest Texas' State TIniversity has increased its student population by over 39% since the Fall semester of 19]2. The increased growth of the community has taxed the service capabilities of the department and of the communications system as well. During the 1981 year, San Marcos Officers responded to 13,069 cal~for service. Each and every call for service was dispatched through the communications office. This again does not include those calls handled by the dispat. occuring outside of the city. As the one fully operation communications system in the county at night, the San Marcos dispatchers responsibilities are further increased. When dispatching £0J;" ten San Marcos units' at night, hand logging radio transmission information. and handling the 2 RESULTS OR BENEFITS EXPECTED. Brief and concise narrative of the overall . purpose of the project, or what is expected to be accomplished by the project. The implementation of a tape/logging recorder will vastly improve the overall communication cRüahilities of the Department. In addition to the improved communications, overall efficiency ( service will improve as well. A recording system equipted with an emergency message recall E tern will ~mm virtually elliminate loss of information in the communications office. The le~ording of both radio and telephone information will completely document our communications seJ;"vices. In the event that emergency information is not immediatly understood by the dispatcher on duty, the recall system can repeat the report audibly for the dispatcher to overhear. In the event that important radio transmissions are needed to better investigate a situation, the tape logging system will both record telephone reports and radio broadcasts. Thi,s will assist in the resolution of citizen complaints, in the prosecution of cases where this information is necessary and in internal investigations. It will help to reduce the responsibilities of the one dispatcher. Less information will be required in writing. When service avtivities increase drastically, the dispatcher will no longer have to document radio and telephone information by hand. The logging system will eliminate a great deal of the tedious \.,;ork. The dispatcher \vill be more attentive to the officer in the field and to the complainants on the phone. In the prosecution of criminal cases, the original recordings of sounds., voice intonation, voice infliction and emotion can be of overwhelming value.