Police Dispatcher

What Does a Police Dispatcher Do?
Make no mistake, working as a dispatcher can be incredibly stressful. Dispatchers are often responsible for doing double duty as 911 operators. They take calls for service then send law enforcement to the scene. Dispatchers are often the first point of contact for people in desperate need of help, people who may not even be coherent when they make the call. But dispatchers have to remain calm and keep their wits about them no matter how bad the situation sounds. They have to make sense of what the caller is dealing with so they can make sure people get the exact emergency services they need.

The job of a police dispatcher often includes:

• Monitoring and recording the location of on-duty police officers
• Taking both 911 and non-emergency calls for service
• Performing driver's license and wanted persons queries
• Assigning case numbers and recording case notes
• Using computers and computer-aided dispatch
• Monitoring police radio traffic
• Operating police radios
• Dispatching patrol officers to calls for service
• Providing assistance to officers by contacting other services as needed
• Police dispatchers must be able to multitask and deal effectively with different personality types. They must remain in control of their own emotions so they can help victims remain calm.

You've probably heard stories of dispatchers walking people through CPR over the phone, talking calmly to those who have reported gruesome tragedies, and even talking people out of committing suicide. In these and many other circumstances, dispatchers may find themselves as long-distance life savers. Dispatchers are often responsible for doing double duty as 911 operators. They take calls for service then send law enforcement to the scene. Dispatchers are often the first point of contact for people in desperate need of help, people who may not even be coherent when they make the call.

Median Pay (annual): 38,010 USD 
Median Pay (hourly): 18.27 USD
Entry-level Education: High school diploma or equivalent