They have asked for 26 additional positions in 1998 and another 21 in 1999. Dispatchers pick shifts once a year by seniority and performance. There are two individual fluorescent lights at each work position. The comm center is staffed and supervised by civilians, but it ultimately overseen by a police captain. At one end are 15 call-taker positions , each with a Compaq computer and an IBM terminal.
Some positions have a computer mouse, others have trackballs .
All dispatches are immediately transmitted to in-car laptop computers, which can also access criminal justice databases. The screen is completely re-sizable and positionable by the dispatcher depending up their own preference. There is a wrist rest and a footrest at each position. Charlotte dispatchers said they frequently type standing up. There are some offices off the main room, and a break room is across the hall, through the elevator reception area and a locked door leading to the administrative area of the 3rd floor.