Ep. 41 Dispatcher/911 Call Taker Jonathan Bates of Failure To Stop’s Comm Center

On Being a Police Officer

Ep. 41 Dispatcher/911 call taker and former corrections officer, Jonathan Bates joins me for this episode. Many of you know him as co-host with Drew Breasy on Comm Center, a new show on the Failure to Stop YouTube channel and podcast where they breakdown all elements of a police incident – the 911 calls, dispatch and the police response via body cam footage.

As Jon says in our conversation: “You basically see how a problem enters the criminal justice system. A problem exists, someone dials 911 and we start working. It's true crime in real time because we're trying to solve a mystery. We examine the body cam footage of the police officers arriving on scene. How does what we know help the police officers before they get there? How does it affect the outcome? We’re marrying together what it is like from the time the phone rings until the officers get on scene and get the suspect secured. It's definitely the most exciting part of the criminal justice system.” And I will add, it makes for suspenseful viewing and listening, and importantly, it really helps people understand the totality of a police response and the importance of the Comm Center’s support.

Jon and I talk about Comm Center the show, but also what it's like to work in a real Comm Center where Jon is a 911 call taker and dispatcher. We'll also be talking about Jon's six and a half years as a correctional officer in a state penitentiary prior to his work in dispatch.

Jon sheds light on the importance of both of these professions in our greater law enforcement community. He shares his experience with a mixture of humor and emotion, and he shares insights that are compelling and inspiring. As I do with law enforcement, I also want to shed light on the real stories of these two professions. These are true first responders who have their own level of trauma, their own rewards and importantly their own contribution to society as a whole. Thank you to all of you who do these jobs to help keep the rest of us safe.

Comm Center airs live on the Failure To Stop YouTube Channel Thursday evenings at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT. If you can't watch it live, the show reposts on YouTube and airs as a podcast on all podcast platforms. Call-in live or leave a voicemail: 848-COMM911 or [phone].

FAILURE TO STOP SHOWS

All air live on YouTube and repost to YouTube and all podcast platforms.

NIGHTSHIFT

With Eric Tansey and Andrea Up Late

Tuesdays 8pm ET

LAST CALL

Eric Tansey and Josh from Dead Leg Media

Wednesdays at noon ET

COMM CENTER

Drew Breasy and Jonathan Bates

Thursdays at 8pm ET

Call-in live or leave a voicemail:

848-COMM911 or [phone]

FAILURE TO STOP BREAKDOWN

Eric Tansey and Drew Breasy

Fridays 11am ET

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©Abby Ellsworth. All interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org