Police, Fire, & Ambulance Dispatchers
Operate radio, telephone, or computer equipment at emergency response centers. Receive reports from the public of crimes, disturbances, fires, and medical or police emergencies. Relay information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May maintain contact with caller until responders arrive.
Also called: Communications Officer, Communications Operator, Dispatcher, Public Safety Dispatcher
Knowledge:
- customer service
- administrative services
- public safety and security
- law and government
- telecommunications
- multimedia
Skills:
- listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
- talking to others
- understanding people's reactions
- changing what is done based on other people's actions
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Abilites:
- communicate by speaking
- listen and understand what people say
- pay attention to something without being distracted
- do two or more things at the same time
- notice when problems happen
- make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
- quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things
Personality:
Description: People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need
- Stress Tolerance
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Self Control
- Integrity
- Concern for Others
Technology:
Data base user interface and query software
- 911 system information databases
- Law enforcement information databases
Helpdesk or call center software
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Spillman Technologies Spillman Computer-Aided Dispatch
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Microsoft Office
