Age Requirements

[PearlEclipse88]

What are the main requirement to be a dispatcher at your PD.
-Age? how difficult is it to learn? do you have to have Experience?
Do you work in a small department or a big department?

[Lawson]

At CAPCOM (Capital Communications) who dispatches for my area, you must at least 18y.o. a HS Graduate, free of any Felony convictions and able to get the appropriate credentials (such as NCIC III, WASIS/WACIC use).

I have a 19 y.o. friend who just became a call-taker there. You must start as a call taker before you can dispatch. She said it is very difficult and at times has made her want to quit. CAPCOM dispatches for 7 Law enforcement agencies including the capitol city's police and the county sheriff. They also dispatch for 10+ Fire departments I believe.

It helps to have some sort of experience such as customer service, law enforcement, fire services, medical services, use of multi-line phone line, able to work under hostile or high stress situations, lots of computer experience typically preferred.

Hope that helps.

[Big Sexy]

What are the main requirement to be a dispatcher at your PD.
-Age? how difficult is it to learn? do you have to have Experience?
Do you work in a small department or a big department?

BIG says, find some direction in life and actually decide what it is you really want to do. Not to say you can't change your mind, but by the pattern of your questions, you're all over the place. The members could be a little more helpful and more of a resource to you, if you knew what you really wanted.

Is a college degree necessary to get a job at a police department? Do you Make more money if you do have a degree in college or should i just be better off just going to the Academy?

how old do you have to be to become a DETENTION DEPUTY?
-Has anyone been a DETENTION DEPUTY then gone to becoming a cop?
-How is a job for DETENTION DEPUTY

Any air Force MPs...or was in the airforce as a mp?

im looking to go in and i was wondering
-How boot camp is?Is it really challenging?what are the days like?Things liek that!
-Also tech school...could you tell em lil more bout that hows the living/dorming while you are in tech school and what your doing in tech school!
-Also after tech school did you get to go home before getting stationed and if you did how long?

Has anyone ever been a Corrections officer or detention deputy?
My local county police department is sponsoring people to become a corrections officer for 2 years then was gonna convert over to officer after two years! How is it being a corrections officer?

Has anyone attended the Police ACademy at HCC in Tampa.Im looking to go there and just wanted to know how good it was?

During police academy did anyone have a job? If so where were you working while attending police academy?

[lizy]

I got interviewed at 19, hired at 20 and I am now 22. It was very, very difficult at that age. I guess the recruiters skipped over my high school graduation date (and didn't pay attention during the background) because they thought I was around 23-24, and were floored when I said I was 20. I don't work in a large comm centre, I work in a police department. I am "the baby" of the department (except one officer who is about 10 months older than me).

Everyone else in our radio staff is 27-62 (!) - most are either 27-30 or 40-45.

My only previous experience was volunteering in social services and fast food. Most others in our radio room have university degrees, college dispatch programs, or are former officers. However I am also Canadian and as far as I can see, we are paid a lot differently than our American counterparts.

[MrJim911]

My agency requires and applicant to be 21 by their first day of employment. They have to pass a written test, drug test, oral interview and extensive background investigation.

If the agency has a good training program, then yes, it will be hard.

As a trainer I can say experience either helps alot, or hinders alot. It depends on the person.

[freshgirl]

What are the main requirement to be a dispatcher at your PD.
-Age? how difficult is it to learn? do you have to have Experience?
Do you work in a small department or a big department?

In the Bay Area dispatching jobs are very competitive, similar to being hired as a police officer. Most agencies require you to take an entrance exam given by POST. The exam is not offered as often as the entry level peace officer exam and only those who rank in the top 10% are usually offered jobs. When I took the dispatching test there were 500 people who showed up, when I took the police officer test only 20 showed up. You can't really study for the exam, it's more of an aptitude test. I scored very high and I think my prior experience using a two way radio and taking calls helped a lot.

There is a dispatcher academy that I believe they are required to take (every agency I know of requires it). It's about 3 weeks long. Some people put themself through this course prior to applying.

I have friends who became dispatchers at 19, but they had been explorers and had some experience and familiarity with those departments.

[james13f]

As a trainer I can say experience either helps alot, or hinders alot. It depends on the person.

Yeppers... we have a rookie that was a fully trained calltaker/dispatcher for NYPD.

She's having a hellish time getting radio-trained here. It's a whole different world.

[gringoscott]

I'm pretty sure just about every agency around here requires:
18+ years old
HS Diploma or GED
No Felonies
Psych/ Medical Eval, Drug screen
POST Background

In my quick research I've found that most places are only hiring experienced dispatchers. If they are hiring dispatchers at all...

[freshgirl]

In my quick research I've found that most places are only hiring experienced dispatchers. If they are hiring dispatchers at all...

If your in the Sf bay area and want to be a dispatcher, look into taking the dispatching test when ever it comes up. I took the test through the Peninsula cities 911 dispatch testing consortium (I think that is what they called it). After taking the test I was given offers to interview with 5 different agencies. None of them were advertising that they were hiring entry level, but if you score well on the test they will contact you.

[christrue]

Some years ago at one of the annual Police-Celebrity Golf Tournaments
at Rancho Park I picked up some information concerning this job.

I wish now I had thought more and applied :(

[WhiteLite]

I work for a medium size dept in TN, we dispatch for Police and Fire inside the city. 18 is min age, clean backround, and references. Obviously a high-school degree is required at a minimum, college preferred. Certification is not required, but obviously a plus if the dept doesn't have to spend the money to send you to classes. All our communication personel are non-sworn civilian employees. I think that's about it.

[TheOrteganator]

I'm not sure, but I think that my PDs requirement is 18. I don't know anyone's exact age in there, but a couple seem under 20. Even if it used to be older, they're been understaffed and might hire a qualified 5 year old at this point.

[StationM]

Command of the English language - get certified in another language, and you get extra

Minimum 18 years old

No felony convictions
(misdemeanors may be disqualifying depending on number and recency)

Pass work simulation performance test - Criticall modules

Pass background investigation, medical, and truth verification examination

Must work rotating shifts, weekends, holidays

We have a one year training program, and you have to master phones and radios in that time frame, and complete POST academy within the first 24 months. You will also be on probation for 2 years. One year during your training, and 1 year following your sign-off date.