WichitaFallsComplete.com
Public Service ? Law enforcement agencies are bad about using the term "public service" instead of the word "call", when referring to telephone communications. You hear it day in and day out, dispatchers asking officers to "public service" (phone #). Why use two two-syllable words when one short word, that actually describes the action, will do the job?
Do these agency employees even know why they use this terminology? I'll tell you why. When they started the job, they heard more senior employees using it, so they figure it's the right thing to do. Well, it's not the right thing to do. If you mean "call", say "call"!
The maximum security prison where I work (Allred Unit - Wichita Falls) has this disease also. You hear it a hundred times a day (monitor 153.815 MHz if you're near). "Officer Slick Sharp, please "public service" (phone #)". The term makes even less sense at the Allred Unit since the phone system within the complex sure isn't public!
I've always been a big proponent of plain language when it comes to radio communications so you sure won't hear me saying "public service".
Maynard
