A Career as Public Safety Dispatcher

If you have an interest in helping the public and leading them to safety, then you might have an interest as a public safety dispatcher. A public safety dispatcher handles emergency calls and non emergency calls for the police office or a 911 emergency service.

As a public safety dispatcher, you should be able to have good independent judgment as well as initiative when answering emotional calls, those who may be disturbed or someone who could be calling from an abusive situation. Emergency calls may come from households or even from the scenes of traffic accidents or other public locations. A dispatcher must decide which way to route calls and which law enforcement personnel to contact for each type of emergency situation. There is a possibility that you may have to work alone or in a group with other dispatchers. All offices always have some type of dispatcher on duty 24 hours a day, and the schedules are rotating,with some possibly having to work some over-time.

To apply as a public dispatcher, an individual should have the following:

• a high school diploma
• Must be 18 years of age and a United States citizen
• The individual can not have any felonies or convictions on his/her personal record

There are a large variety of skills that an individual should have if they are considering a career as a public safety dispatcher. Many of them include the ability to speak clearly and concisely, the ability to multi-task and be able to think quickly and clearly in the event of an emergency. While most can begin their career with just a high school diploma, must will have to endure three to six months on the job training before being completely employed as safety dispatcher. Dispatchers may work for local law enforcement or a fire department.

Other important skills include the following:

• Have an understanding of public government and public service activity
• Be able to run computer software, equipment and have knowledge of computer technology
• Have knowledge of law enforcement terminology and equipment
• Understand the English language such as proper spelling and grammar
• Be dependable and be able to follow an attendance schedule
• The ability to use two-way radios and telephones
• Be able to establish working relationships with public relations such as local law enforcement, town employees and public citizens

Also to be a public dispatcher, an individual must keep certain certifications up to date such as access to certain local, state and national databases for criminal history. The individual must also possess a valid U.S. driver's license.

Most working environments of a public dispatcher are usually secure and climate-controlled. The largest portion of the day will be spent inside on the telephone speaking with various people throughout the shift. An individual should be able to work under high levels of stress and have the ability to think quickly with each changing situation. Most public safety dispatchers can expect to earn on an average of 33,000 to 40,000 per year depending on their location.

If you want to be able to help people and assist others during an emergency, you may consider taking a career as a public safety dispatcher. Be sure to finish your high school education and then be ready for training up to six months and test for any required certifications. Once you have finished the requirements, you can begin your career into helping those in need during emergency situations.