I TAKE A BREATH AS I SIT DOWN,
GOD GIVE ME STRENGTH TO MAKE THIS ROUND
SO MANY LIVES, I HOLD IN HAND,
SO MANY PEOPLE WITH DEMANDS.

MY FIRST CALL, A CHILD IS SCREAMING,
DADDY'S BEATING MOM AND SHE'S NOT BREATHING.
IT'S HARD TO DEAL WITH AND STAY CALM,
THE CHILD YELLS, "DAD'S GOT A GUN!"

I HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL AND SAY,
PLEASE SLOW DOWN THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY
AS I DISPATCH TO MY DEPUTIES,
"10-47, THERE IS WEAPONS"

TEN THOUSAND THINGS RUSH THROUGH MY HEAD,
GOD I PRAY SHE'S NOT DEAD.
STAY ON THE PHONE AND TALK TO ME,
AS I RISE TO MY FEET.

THE COPS ARE HERE THE CHILD IS SAYING,
STAY ON THE LINE AS I START PRAYING.
"BE ADVISED HE HAS A GUN,
AND HE ALSO HAS HIS SON."

NOW I HAVE AN OPEN LINE,
JUST A DISPATCHER IN THE BLIND
"DISPATCH," I HEARD HIM SAY,
"HIS NAME IS TEDDY AND HE'S OKAY."

THEY CLEAR THE SCENE FROM THE CALL,
NOT ONE DEPUTY HAD TO FALL.
I TAKE A BREATH AS I SIT DOWN,
THANK YOU GOD, WE MADE THAT ROUND.

I'M JUST A DISPATCHER, CAN'T YOU SEE
JUST A LIFELINE BETWEEN YOU AND ME.

By

Donna Lindsey

Dispatcher, Benton County Sheriff's Office, MS

Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © May 21, 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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