Nope. Sorry. I don't want to make it easier for the state when it comes to criminal prosecution

[Lee-Lee]

131. And no department would want the liability

If you make the orders of dispatchers legally binding, and somebody gets hurt following them because the dispatcher either didn't have a complete idea of the circumstance (they never do) or the person just gave bad advice, then that agency they work for will face a lawsuit every time.

Have you ever called 911 for a medical emergency and grown very frustrated at the seemingly stupid questions they asked? They always ask them, for a very good reason. They are following a specific flowchart and protocol that has been tested and doctor/lawyer approved. As long as they use that sequence of questions, they are working the correct medical protocol and the company that developed them will accept all liability and defend them in court. If they skip any or change any, then they and the employer are on the line. Most agency that do emergency medical dispatch carry malpractice insurance on dispatchers for this very reason.

I hate to imagine the liability if every directive given by a dispatcher was considered legally binding under authority of law.

I also hate to imagine the additional stress on dispatchers. I worked some shifts doing that when I busted my ankle and couldn't go out on patrol, and those folks are usually multitasking and doing 2-3 calls at once plus other stuff.