THE TRAINING SIMULATOR FACILITY CONSISTS OF TWO ADJOINING ROOMS DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE THE ACTUAL COMMUNICATIONS CENTER OF THE DEPARTMENT. THE TRAINING ROOMS ARE STOCKED WITH STANDARD DISPATCH AND RADIO EQUIPMENT. ONE OF THE ROOMS IS FOR THE INSTRUCTOR, WHO CAN VIEW TRAINEE PERFORMANCE THROUGH A VIDEO VIEWER AND A ONE-WAY MIRROR. TRAINEES ARE GIVEN A NUMBER OF TRAINING EXERCISES, WHICH ARE 'TRAINING SCENARIOS' BASED ON ACTUAL CALLS FOR SERVICE. THREE SCENARIO TYPES ARE USED; ROUTINE, INCIDENT, AND EMERGENCY. DRAMA STUDENTS FROM A NEARBY UNIVERSITY ARE USED TO TAPE THE TRAINING CALLS. TRAINEE RESPONSES ARE GRADED ON INFORMATION ACCURACY, FORM COMPLETION TIME, DECISION ABILITY, AND TACT. THIS PROCEDURE IS NOW USED TO TRAIN NEW COMMUNICATION CENTER PERSONNEL AND TO UPGRADE EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL. INITIAL TRAINING RECORDS SHOW NEW HIRES HAVE MATURED MUCH FASTER USING SIMULATION TRAINING....DMC