It is 11:30 p.m. Thursday at the University Police Department, and dispatchers Karen Jarnagin and Scott Stafford are monitoring three radio channels, taking phone calls, interacting with coming-and-going public safety workers, and fielding questions for a newspaper interview.
Jarnagin and Stafford agreed their duties have them right where they want to be for now.
"It's not monotonous because you never know what's going to happen. It fits into my lifestyle," Jarnagin, 29, said. "It really picks up a lot more when the weather changes and people are getting out more."
Stafford is unabashed about the enjoyment he gets from his job.
"Each day is different, and I love what I do," Stafford, 26, said. "When I'm here, we have four or five officers working, and I'm responsible for them. It starts and ends here."
Stafford is a two-year veteran of UPD dispatch, and Jarnagin has a year and a half of experience.
"There are Thursdays when we're really, really busy, and there are some that we're not," Jarnagin said after fielding a couple of calls from students regarding minor parking quandaries.
A stretch of quietness ensues as all is calm on the radio, on the phone and, presumably, on campus.
"Now we sit and wait," Jarnagin said.
At 12:10 a.m. Friday morning, a male resident of Shales Hall whose car has been towed phones in, and Jarnagin takes the call.
She reminds the student of his $135 in outstanding parking tickets and directs him to the towing firm that handles all on-campus towing. Her voice remains level and calm throughout the conversation.
"You have to be a 'people' person, almost like customer service," Jarnagin said.
Stafford said the calm, reassuring tone of a dispatcher's voice is paramount when taking calls and talking to officers on the radio.
"They (officers) know by the dispatcher's tone the kind of call it is," he said. "You have to maintain that level of calmness. Whether they want to admit it or not, we can keep them a lot calmer in situations than they can themselves."
At just after 1 a.m., Gene Burton checks in on his dispatchers for the first time since becoming interim director of Public Safety the day before.
"Not much is going to change," Burton said to the dispatchers, referring to a memo he sent out.
Burton chats for a few minutes before leaving. He is due back at work in six hours for his first day as acting director.
"Excellent man," Stafford said, motioning toward the door after Burton has exited. "The people here are great. We have great camaraderie."
Jarnagin and Stafford are remarkably different from each other.
Jarnagin was born in Texas, grew up "an Army brat" and graduated from high school in Germany. She can speak German and has two daughters, ages 6 and 13.
"My kids are my No. 1 priority, and I am a basketball guru," she said.
Jarnagin, who is single, drops her daughters off at school in the morning after getting off work. She then sleeps until she has to pick up the first child from school at 1:30 p.m.
She ran high school track and enjoys playing and watching basketball and writing short stories.
Stafford has lived in Muncie all his life. He played football and baseball at Burris High School.
He has a girlfriend, but no children. He enjoys cars and basic "guy hobbies."
"He also likes ballet," Jarnagin said.
Stafford goes by the nickname "Lumpy," a name Jarnagin said she called him long before she knew his given name.
"Lumpy" was Wally's friend on the '60s sitcom "Leave It to Beaver," Stafford said, and he is told he bears a resemblance.
Jarnagin and Stafford share some genuine chemistry and spend a lot of the night chiding each other.
"She thinks I'm crazy, but we have a good time and entertain each other," Stafford said.
Jarnagin agreed.
"It's like being married one night a week," she said, "and he is a television hog. I am the one over here doing the wifely duties."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
