SenorCappuccino

God, yes.

While it is a government job, we're not rocking and rolling with 12 computer monitors where we can instantly get your location. It's not that simple, and I have 3 screens taking 911 calls and 4 screens working as a dispatcher.

If there is one thing I want people to take away from this, it's that WE NEED YOUR ADDRESS. Technology is advancing and we're getting better with being able to see where you are, but it's not 100% all the time.

My job is to help you. I'm trying to help you. Please, answer my questions. There is a reason i'm asking you...it's most certainly not for my health.

Alot of people use the terms 911 Dispatcher as a blanket term. So i'll break it in half.

911 Call Taker: Assertiveness, Kindness, Critical Thinking, works well under stress, enjoys fast paced environment, technologically inclined.

911 Dispatcher: Assertiveness, Critical Think, multitasking, fast paced, able to handle stress.

Multitasking is the biggest thing for dispatching. We do not click a button to start talking, we have a foot pedal that is like our push to talk button. On large calls, I can very easily be listening to the officers and documenting everything going on with my headset in one ear, holding a phone up to my other ear with my shoulder letting the fire department know we need them, typing, reading incoming information that is being live updated on my screen from the 911 call taker, and ensuring i'm actually comprehending what the officers are saying so I do not miss any important information I need to type in the call, switching radio channels to let our Aviation unit know we need the helicopter to get up for this, letting our K9 team know we need to get our dogs out for a suspect track and asking the 911 call taker the questions that the officers are asking me...all at the same time.

Every day, every minute, every second.

We have "priorities" that our calls are sent up as. 911 Call go to the call taker > Call taker documents the information and sends it to a dispatcher > Dispatcher sends it to the officers.

The priorities are Code 1, Code 2 and Code 3. In a very simply way here is the breakdown. Code 1- Very very basic non-emergency that is most likely just paperwork. Code 2- Average call that can't be simply put as "not important" but not that important. Code 3- Very important. Go now, use your lights and sirens.

When we receive a 911 call, we have about 50 different "call types". We take your call and go "oh you're in an argument, this is a verbal argument" and make the call type a Verbal or Oh you're complaining about your neighbor's music, this is a disturbance. Think of it as putting the call into a category and labeling it. This way the dispatcher has a brief example of whats going on. Once they have the call, they can open it up where we put the information.

So basically to answer your questions, we go to Code 3's first, then code 2s then code 1s. lol.

If you need more clarification, let me know!

Kids love to call. It's annoying as it takes up our resources; however, we do our best to educate them and say this is for emergencies. At least they've proven they know the number lol. So it's not really a bad thing.

If a kid calls with an emergency that they think is one but really isn't i'll calm them down and ask to speak to the adult there. If there is no adult, that's where the problem comes because while they may just be saying they're hungry or can't reach the milk...they're at the age to be not able to care for themselves and home alone.

One time, we had a little girl call us about 9 times just to say hi then hang up. We eventually had to send an officer out so he can tell her mom to take away the phone lol.