Posted on 12/18/2016 8:17:24 PM PST by rey
Are there any first responder dispatchers or 911 operators on this site? I have been told these can be well paying jobs but that many services have difficulty keeping the positions manned. Is this true? I understand these can be stressful positions. Would you consider my time as a forward observer in the Marine Corps appropriate experience for such a position? It required proper radio procedure often under stressful conditions. Any other info you may think is pertinent is appreciated.
As a former street cop, I can tell you that most of the people I worked with held the dispatchers in high regard. Although, there was always the egotistical SOB that would try to denigrate them.
I occasionally would take donuts or bagels to the dispatch center. I have watched dispatchers talk on the telephone, type something else in the computer, and handle radio traffic that was a different subject than what the dispatcher was typing or saying on the telephone.
I have heard dispatchers handling two different pursuits.
If you are up to a challenge; and willing to be responsible of a dozen cops lives on the street, I say take it on.
A good dispatcher is with their weight in gold, and 99% of the street cops know it!
You’d make it just fine ..... stress ya have covered. It’s all the civilian supervision that’ll make ya nuts.
Reminds me of a well-known San Diego story. New officer just off his field training, famously unflappable female dispatcher.
Officer spots an occupied vehicle parked off the road, stops to make contact. Recent ex-con emerges from vehicle with a gun in hand. They end up holding each other at gunpoint. Officer puts out a help call, dispatcher doesn’t have anything near-by, but sends what she can find. Ex-con takes a look at the kid and thinks he can take him. The following conversation occurs:
O: The subject’s coming toward me.
D: Tell him to stop.
O: He’s not complying.
D: Do you have your outside speaker on?
O: Affirmative.
D: Can the subject hear me?
O: Affirmative.
D: Shoot him.
Dude surrendered immediately. Wasn’t scared of the rookie, but that cold dispassionate voice pronouncing his death sentence shook him up. He kept complaining about her all the way to the jail. They told that tale at her retirement party. She was one of those who could work multiple pursuits without breaking a sweat. Used to watch her work once in a while when I was covering stories at the old PD station. Nothing fazed her.
I’ll be starting my 20th year as a dispatcher this year in a medium size department. It can be an incredibly stressful job but a good one. Depending on where you live and work the pay and benefits can be great, especially considering you don’t need a college degree. The downside is turnover is high as it isn’t an easy job to keep. The turnover problem is a circular one as people quitting leads to others working more overtime, which leads to more burnout and quitting, which leads to more overtime, etc.
The work can be divided into two separate roles, although mid to smaller sized departments combine these roles as having a dozen people working is neither practical nor affordable.
Calltakers do just that, they answer 911. They talk to people who are going through the worst experience of their life. They get that person help. The down side is, in a larger department the calltaker likely won’t get any resolution. IE., they’ll hear that person screaming about their child not breathing but probably won’t find out if the child lived or not. That can grate on you and causes burnout and stress. It also leads to legitimate PTSD that is under reported and under treated.
Dispatchers receive the calls from the call taker and send it out. This sounds like a simple process but in a busy department it is a lot like being a air traffic controller or a juggler. You can’t just send calls out in the order that they come in as you have to prioritize greater emergencies over smaller ones.
The skills/qualifications you mention would help, especially the ability to work in stressful conditions. To do the job you essentially need to know basic computer operation, be able to work in stressful conditions, be able to talk and reason with people, and most importantly, be able to multitask. Most departments will have some arbitrary typing speed requirement as well. If you live in California or another POST state, there may be specific requirements and training needs, but you can look those up easily enough. Obviously a clean background and psych test would be needed too.
Useless trivia break. The radio dispatcher on the TV show Adam-12 was an actual LA Police dispatcher.
Trivia break over.
I know a Washoe County dispatcher. 60 hour weeks and lot’s of turn over. Somewhat disconcerting if you are calling 911.
I don’t have a lot of faith in 911 anymore. My county is good (Lyon Co) if you need fire or medical assistance. The Sheriff’s Department here is good too but understaffed and very spread out.
Knowing 911 operators sometimes shakes your faith. I wouldn’t want to rely on them in some counties to get the help you need.
You have reached the FReeper emergency advice thread.
Please hold....
Truly an angel!!! I be she laughed about that for some time. That rookie should send her a bouquet every year on that anniversary.
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