Duties of an Emergency Dispatcher

Answer 1

Emergency dispatchers (also known as communications officers) receive and relay information. Most dispatchers work for local police and fire departments. Some agencies require dispatchers to become certified by the hiring agency. Certification normally involves written testing and CPR training. The written test asks questions pertaining to the basic safety protocols and the standard operating procedures of the agency and the state. Most agencies require dispatchers to train in a classroom. CPR certification is granted after successfully completing a CPR class taught by a trained instructor. Most dispatcher positions require a high school diploma. At the federal level, these positions may require a 4-year degree.

Nature of the Work

At the local level, dispatchers work for police and fire departments. They must be comfortable using basic office machines such as computers, fax machines, and multi-line phone systems. The work environment is the same as that of a call center. Dispatchers receive incoming calls to the police and fire department. It is the dispatcher’s job to determine the nature of the call, type call information notes into a computer file, and relay the pertinent data to the proper police or fire unit zone. The work can be stressful and the dispatcher must learn how to handle callers who are upset, suicidal, and victimized.

The dispatcher acts as a point of contact for fire units, emergency medical personnel, and police officers who are out on the job. Police traffic stops, criminal history information, emergency medical call information, and other sensitive data are relayed back and forth between the dispatcher and the field units. It is also the dispatcher’s job to know where each of their units is located in the field. Smaller agencies may require their dispatchers to enter arrest warrants and file administrative paperwork.

Starting Pay

Most emergency dispatchers work at the local level. Pay varies depending upon the budget of the hiring agency. Most dispatchers earn a starting salary of about $30,000, and they are paid hourly. Pay increases with seniority and experience. Dispatchers who work for federal agencies generally earn more, and their starting salaries may range from $30,000 to $40,000 annually.