THE PAPER INCLUDES A SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF OVERALL DISPATCHER OPERATIONS. COVERED ARE THE KINDS AND NUMBER OF DEMANDS FOR SERVICES MADE UPON THE DISPATCHERS, AS WELL AS FINDINGS FROM A TIME STUDY OF ACTIVITIES OF THE DISPATCHERS. THE STUDY ALSO INVOLVED AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENT OF TELEPHONE SERVICE REQUESTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE KINDS OF CITIZENS DEMANDS TO WHICH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ASKED TO RESPOND. ONE IMPORTANT FINDING IS THAT CHAPEL HILL COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF THEIR TIME DEALING DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC, PRIMARILY VIA THE TELEPHONE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP