Police Dispatcher Practice Test

In the context of police dispatch, "ghosting" refers to a failure to connect with a responding unit. This situation can arise when a dispatcher attempts to establish communication with a police unit responding to a call but receives no response. This can create critical challenges, such as delays in response time or lack of situational awareness for the officers involved. Effective communication is essential in emergency situations; hence, understanding and recognizing the implications of ghosting is crucial for dispatchers. They need to be able to identify when this occurs and take appropriate actions to re-establish contact or send alternative units, thereby ensuring public safety.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of "ghosting." Archiving old calls is a routine procedure for maintaining records, but it has no direct connection to communication failures. An advanced communication protocol involves established methods for effective interaction but does not relate to disconnection. A strategy for calming callers focuses on managing the communication with citizens rather than operational disconnects with responding units.