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[Dispatch911]

I am changing careers from Secretary to 911 Dispatch. This has been with much prayer and thought too. I work for the County and understand the concept of "public servant"... and I have friends in LE and have a pretty realistic idea about what it will involve. However, I would appreciate any and all advice from experienced Dispatchers. I am going for a "ride-along" to a Comm. Center with a friend, and I have been on patrol ride-alongs... I have the scanner, learned the phonetic alphabetic, 10 codes, passed the test, now waiting for background and fingerprints. Whew... why do I have sweaty palms? I guess because of what someone said, "your mistakes can be fodder for the 6:00 news team" (ugh) So any and all advice will be appreciated!

[locokarma]

Welcome!

I hope that you enjoy this place as much as I have!

As to your question.... hmmmm.  Patience is definitely something that you will need. With the ability to do mutiple things at once,  listen to several conversations at the same time, and to be able to understand them! I'm not trying to scare you off... I have been doing the "dispatch thing" since 1993 and I really enjoy it-  even though I now have more grey hairs than when I first started. It can be stressfull at times, but it can also be very rewarding.

The # 1 rule- at least where I work - is that the radio always comes first- you never know what the officer is about to tell you.  His or her safety is a priority. You will learn a lot on the job and from other dispatchers at your department who have been there longer .  Just take your time, don't rush- and if you make a mistake (we're only human)- learn from it and go on- I should know- I've made my share of them...lol.     One more thing- your listening skills are just as important as your verbal skills.

Good luck and I wish you the best in your new job!

 :D

[Dispatch911]

:D Thank you so much for replying to my post. I understand "multi-task" is a required skill... and thankfully I am multi-task as a Secretary and a Mom, hopefully will be as a 911 Dispatcher too. I enjoyed your web page and signed your Guest Book. Best of everything to you and your family.

[Stump]

Each 911 center is different, with the agencies they handle, the job responsibilities, and officer/dispatch interaction.  My center has a very interactive dispatch - we are the right hand for our people in the field. We also handle the whole county (town, city, sheriff and state pd's) and take over 1.2 million calls a year. We have operators that take the calls, and dispatchers  (who work every so often on phones to keep our skills up).  

Honestly, I don't think anything could really prepare you for the job except doing it. I remember watching the dispatchers before actually getting the job and thinking how "easy" it was, and how I thought I could do it.  I can do it now, but it was very difficult in the beginning.  You have to be able to speak clearly, quickly, and concisely, hear everything going on around you, type and talk at the same time (and do it FAST).  You have a good head start by getting a scanner - it really helps.

As far as the sweaty palms - I think we have all been there. It takes at least a year to feel "comfortable" in the job - and even then you will have bad days.  I remember training and thinking that this wasn't the job for me, but just remember to persevere.  You will feel stupid at times, and will be scared to death, but just think - you are a rare breed and if the people around you could get through the training period, so can you. 

Don't let it worry you when things get busy. The most important thing I remembered was the mantra I use today - "You can't sh*t a police car".  The cops rely on us to stay calm and be the lifeline. You need to speak the same way and same tone when giving a report call to an shooting.

You will cry after you have gotten through your first (or  more) foot pursuit.  It is a very emotional time (imagine what the guy in the field goes through) because you have people relying on you.  Once that adreneline kicks in, look out!  It does not mean you are weak or silly - it is natural.

Some advice from me:

-- Don't get too personally involved with your co-workers.  Believe me, its best to just do your job with minimal interaction.  This also goes for dating. "Don't sh*t where you eat" is a favorite expression.

-- Don't take things too personally. Let it go when a fellow dispatcher or cop gets snotty with you.  They are reacting to the situation at their end, and its not you.  It saves on a lot of stress.

-- Maintain your sense of humor.  The more warped, the better. You definitely need to have it - we laugh at the strangest things. 

-- Remember that the people calling in should be treated like they are important. They may not know that they are the 40th caller for that dead deer at the side of the road. 

 -- Did I say not to date people you work with????

Above all, remember ***** Officer safety is our number 1 concern - even above customer service ****

[Dispatch911]

Hey thanks for the input, this is wonderful to hear from veteran dispathers. Don't worry about me dating coworkers, I have always had a policy I never break "don't get my honey where I get my money" and I have learned to keep my professional relationships just that, professional, and my friendships separate. I have been in a relationships with two cops (not at the same time!) and I'm not all starry eyed about them or their uniform, I know they are are human and it is with a sincere desire to support them, and serve the public, that I want to do this job. Thank you so much for your input, it is appreciated. God Bless, Linda