We’ve dispatched/We dispatched four units

[EngLearner]

Suppose a couple of police officers find a group of people wanted by the police. When they try to apprehend them, the group opens fire. The officers request help on the radio. The operator tells them that assistance is on the way. At the station, the operator informs the person in charge about the situation, and that person orders four units to be sent to the location. Some time later, the operator contacts the officers and says the following:

1. We’ve dispatched/We dispatched four units. Two of them have almost reached the destination. Do you copy?

2. We've dispatched/We dispatched four units. They've all arrived at the site, but they report that they can't find you. Please report your exact location. Do you copy?

I made up the scenario and wrote sentences #1 and #2. I think in #1 the present perfect "we've dispatched" should be used because the cars are still on the way at the time of speaking. In #2, since the cars have arrived, I think it's possible to use either tense. Do you agree?

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd use "We've" in both. I'd use "We" if I were reporting the story later on, but not in that particular direct speech.

 

[EngLearner]

If the operator doesn't mention the number of the units sent:

We've dispatched/We dispatched back up units, and they all have arrived on site. They report that they can't find you. Please report your exact location. Do you copy?

Should the simple past or the present perfect be used in this context?