Welcome to the UCSO Dispatch Observation Program

The Union County Sheriff's Office Communications Division offers observation sessions where agency personnel can shadow our dispatchers. You'll observe 911 call handling, CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch) operations, radio communications, and the coordination between law enforcement, fire, and EMS. This program is available to law enforcement, fire/EMS personnel, academy students, and agency partners.

Getting Started

Someone from your agency registers on this portal and selects your agency from the dropdown. UCSO approves the first person from each agency as the Agency Coordinator. Once approved:

• The Coordinator can book observations, invite other agency members, and manage all bookings for the agency.
• Bookers (invited by the coordinator) can book observations and manage any booking within their agency.
• Everyone in the agency sees all agency bookings — full transparency.

Roles Explained

Capability	Coordinator	Booker
Book observations	Yes	Yes
See all agency bookings	Yes	Yes
Edit/cancel any agency booking	Yes	Yes
Invite new bookers	Yes	No
Remove bookers	Yes	No
Transfer coordinator role	Request (UCSO approves)	No

How to Book an Observation

1. Click "Book Observation" on your dashboard
2. Select a program — Currently "Dispatch Observation" (more programs may be added in the future)
3. Choose a duration — Sessions are available in 2-hour and 4-hour blocks
4. Pick a date — The calendar shows available dates highlighted. Dates without availability are grayed out. Our hosts set their own availability, so not every day will have open slots.
   Fire departments: The calendar is color-coded by unit day — green (1-unit), blue (2-unit), red (3-unit) — so you can pick a date that works with your shift rotation. A legend appears at the top of the calendar.
5. Select a time — Available time slots for your chosen date will appear. Pick one that works.
6. Enter observer details:
   • Observer Name — The person who will physically be at our facility. This can be you or someone from your agency.
   • Observer Email — They'll receive a confirmation with location, instructions, and a link to manage their attendance.
   • Observer Phone — They'll receive a text message with all the details they need.
   • Supervisor Name/Email/Phone — If there's a supervisor (lieutenant, battalion chief, shift commander) who should be kept informed, enter their information here. They'll receive updates on the booking status. If you are the supervisor, you can leave this blank.
   • Notes — Anything we should know: special requests, the purpose of the observation (academy requirement, cross-training, etc.), any accommodations needed, or context about the observer.
7. Review and submit — Double-check the details and submit. Your booking will be sent to our dispatch team for review.

What Happens After You Book

What the Observer Receives

When a booking is approved, the observer gets:

• An email explaining they've been scheduled for a dispatch observation by you (their name and your name are included), with the full details: date, time, duration, where to report, what to bring, and dress code
• A text message with the same key information and a link to update their status

The observer can use the "Update My Status" link to:

• "I'll Be There" — Confirms attendance. The host is notified.
• "Running Late" — Lets the host know with an optional ETA/note.
• "Can't Make It" — Cancels the observation. You, the host, and your supervisor are all notified.

What to Tell Your Observer

If you're booking for someone else, here's what they should know:

• They'll get an email and text with everything they need
• They'll be shadowing a working dispatcher, so they should be prepared to observe quietly
• The host may answer questions during low-activity periods
• Any specific instructions will be included in their confirmation email

After the Observation

• The observer receives a feedback survey via email (rating, experience, recommendations). We appreciate honest feedback — it helps us improve the program.
• The UCSO host submits a post-observation report (attendance, conduct, summary).
• Both the survey results and the host report are shared with: you (the booker), your supervisor (if provided), the UCSO admin, and UCSO supervisors. Full transparency for everyone.

Agency Members

The Agency Members section on your dashboard shows everyone from your agency who has an account. As the coordinator, you can:

• Invite Booker — Enter their email and they'll receive a registration link. Their account is automatically approved (no waiting for UCSO).
• Remove — Suspend a booker's account if they no longer need access.
• Transfer Coordinator — If someone else should manage the agency, you can request a transfer. UCSO admin must approve it.

Your Bookings Calendar

The calendar below shows all of your bookings at a glance:

• Gold — Pending approval
• Blue — Approved and confirmed
• Green — Completed
• Gray — Cancelled or denied

Click any booking to see the full details including observer name, agency, status, and any notes.

Frequently Asked Questions