A TOTAL OF 70 PERCENT OF OMAHA'S COMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS ARE DISABLED VETERANS, YET THESE OPERATORS CAN ANSWER AN EMERGENCY CALL IN 2 SECONDS OR LESS. THE JOB GIVES THEM A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, CAN RELEASES POLICE OFFICERS FOR WORK OUT IN THE FIELD. EMERGENCY FORCES TIED INTO OMAHA'S SYSTEM INCLUDE THE CITY POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, STATE POLICE, OFFICES OF COUNTY SHERIFFS, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND RESCUE SQUADS, A POISON CONTROL CENTER FOR CHILDREN, AND A PERSONAL CRISIS SERVICE FOR POSSIBLE SUICIDES. THIS SERVICE PROTECTS APPROXIMATELY 470,000 PERSONS IN A 600 SQUARE-MILE AREA AND IS ONE OF THE FASTEST TELEPHONE SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY. THE 911 SYSTEM UTILIZES THE BELL SYSTEM'S 310 SWITCHING SYSTEM AND HAS 5 SWITCHING CONSOLES AVERAGING A CALL ABOUT EVERY 29 SECONDS. AS A RESULT OF ITS USE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME FOR POLICE CRUISERS HAS BEEN CUT BY ABOUT TWO-THIRDS. ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED THROUGH NORTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY'S ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND BY POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT SPECIALISTS. THE SYSTEM INCLUDES IDENTIFICATION-BUTTON CALL DIRECTORS LABELED WITH OUTLYING COMMUNITY OR CENTRAL-CITY SECTIONS, A RANDOM-ACCESS SLIDE PROJECTOR TO GIVE INSTANT ACCESS TO ANY ONE OF 96 AREA MAPS, AND A LOCKING AND HOLDING OF INCOMING CALLS FEATURE WHICH DISCOURAGES PRANKSTERS AND PREVENTS LOST CALLS. (AOP)