I handle 911 calls for both emergencies and non-emergencies. My job is to dispatch the appropriate personnel (police, fire, or ambulance) to the scene. The units and I communicate via a radio system so I can assist them in their duties. My job also includes accessing multiple databases and systems for both criminal and non-criminal data and being am a certified composite artist.

EDUCATION | I have some college credits and I've received a lot of training pertinent to being a dispatcher - tactical dispatch, emergency medical dispatch, computer training, suicide prevention, domestic violence, hostage negotiations, stress management, etc.

HOW TO GET STARTED | This can be a very stressful job with unpredictable hours. Shifts are scheduled at any time, including weekends, evenings, and holidays. You have to be flexible and open to working all hours. A good working knowledge of computers if very helpful, though most of the training is "on the job." The department will send you to important classes or trainings. This job is not for everybody, but those who stay do so because they love the work.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Calm, creative, flexible, analytical, multi-tasker, good common sense, great sense of humor!

how I got started | I fell into dispatching and discovered that beyond liking what I was doing I actually had a real knack for it. I took a job as a police dispatcher to help with household expenses, but once I learned the ins and outs of it I realized that I had found a great career.

why this job?| The career clearly chose me. My husband was a police officer and heard that a position had opened up and encouraged me to apply. It was supposed to be a temporary situation; I had no intention of staying with it. But I got hooked, and I stayed.

why I love this job!| I love the fact that I'm helping people. It feels great to be able to guide people through really stressful, emotional situations. I really feel that I make a difference in people's lives. I also love the fact that no two days are the same. Every call is unique.

my typical day| A dispatcher have a typical day. On an optimal day I come into the dispatch center, get logged onto the various computer systems, put on my headset, plug it into the radio system, and get to work. Another dispatcher briefs me about what's going on and any emergent situations. Then it's a matter of waiting for that first phone call or radio message. But I never know what to expect. I could come into the center and have to throw myself into a major situation. Or I could come in and go through a very mild shift with very few calls. It could be a day dotted with a few traffic stop calls or a day frantic with multiple emergencies. The variety is one of the great things about this job!

what they are | Shift work is challenging because it's hard to schedule around your life. Not getting involved in the caller's life is even harder, just as hard as not letting the rotten calls get to you.

all about growth | There are many rungs along the dispatcher ladder ranging from trainee to dispatch supervisors, all dependent on experience and training. The actual number of ladder rungs that can be climbed depends on the size of your agency. There is a definite demand for dispatchers - every town has several law enforcement agencies and they all have a busy communications division.

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