Hug a Dispatcher this week - It's National Dispatcher's Week 9-14 APR 2012
Me at work, LAPD 911 Dispatcher
My personal passion is for writing, but the job that pays the bills is my job as a Los Angeles Police 911 Dispatcher. I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Being is a dispatcher is not for everyone. First I had to take a written test, a typing test (I needed to type 38 words a minute) a background check, a "pee" test (for drugs) and an oral interview. From the start of the process to when I was hired took 7 months - and that was pretty fast considering. The one thing you have to be to make a good dispatcher: a good multi-tasker. That's the only real skill you need.
Why did I want to become a dispatcher? For me, it was a natural extension of what I'd been trained to do in the Army. I worked as an MP (military police) in the army. Being a dispatcher allows me to help people who really need help. It's a very rewarding feeling when you take that call and you know you've gotten the police to them in time.
For me, when I answer 911, I have to quickly evaluate a call. Is there police, fire, or medical emergency. If it's medical or fire, I transfer to the fire department. If it's a police emergency, I'll handle it. If it's a non emergency I transfer to a police operator. I also train new hires to get the job and on occasion I act in a quasi- supervisory position when I listen to the RTOs in a bureau talk directly to polic offiers. LAPD has over 21 divisions. I act as a liasion to Pacific Division. Pacific Division is 26 miles square miles and covers Venice Beach along with LAX.
I take all kinds of calls. Screaming calls, unknown troubles, batteries and traffic accidents are some examples of the calls I handle. Then I get calls like this:
That is not a 911 call. I hate to say it, it's not. Sadly, 911 Dispatchers get calls like this all the time.
Here's a funny one on the fire/medical side of the house:
National Dispatcher's Week was designated by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 to acknowledge all the hard work that dispatchers do, and I'll be honest. Answering 911 can be mentally draining. Sometimes, though, when you get those calls of hikers stranded near the Hollywood sign and you're able to get the resources out there to help them out, like the helicopter and police, it's rewarding.
I've been doing the job now for 12 years. Only 9 more to go before I retire. If you call 911 know that your dispatcher is going to be there for you.
Anyone want to share any calls they made to 911 or know of any funny calls made to 911? I'd love to hear your stories.
Smiles
Steph
My personal passion is for writing, but the job that pays the bills is my job as a Los Angeles Police 911 Dispatcher. I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Being is a dispatcher is not for everyone. First I had to take a written test, a typing test (I needed to type 38 words a minute) a background check, a "pee" test (for drugs) and an oral interview. From the start of the process to when I was hired took 7 months - and that was pretty fast considering. The one thing you have to be to make a good dispatcher: a good multi-tasker. That's the only real skill you need.
Why did I want to become a dispatcher? For me, it was a natural extension of what I'd been trained to do in the Army. I worked as an MP (military police) in the army. Being a dispatcher allows me to help people who really need help. It's a very rewarding feeling when you take that call and you know you've gotten the police to them in time.
For me, when I answer 911, I have to quickly evaluate a call. Is there police, fire, or medical emergency. If it's medical or fire, I transfer to the fire department. If it's a police emergency, I'll handle it. If it's a non emergency I transfer to a police operator. I also train new hires to get the job and on occasion I act in a quasi- supervisory position when I listen to the RTOs in a bureau talk directly to polic offiers. LAPD has over 21 divisions. I act as a liasion to Pacific Division. Pacific Division is 26 miles square miles and covers Venice Beach along with LAX.
I take all kinds of calls. Screaming calls, unknown troubles, batteries and traffic accidents are some examples of the calls I handle. Then I get calls like this:
That is not a 911 call. I hate to say it, it's not. Sadly, 911 Dispatchers get calls like this all the time.
Here's a funny one on the fire/medical side of the house:
National Dispatcher's Week was designated by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 to acknowledge all the hard work that dispatchers do, and I'll be honest. Answering 911 can be mentally draining. Sometimes, though, when you get those calls of hikers stranded near the Hollywood sign and you're able to get the resources out there to help them out, like the helicopter and police, it's rewarding.
I've been doing the job now for 12 years. Only 9 more to go before I retire. If you call 911 know that your dispatcher is going to be there for you.
Anyone want to share any calls they made to 911 or know of any funny calls made to 911? I'd love to hear your stories.
Smiles
Steph
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