The East PacificBoard

Malvekia wrote:

Just curious tho, are there any qualifications to be a police dispatcher? What is the pay and benefits like?

In most states, you can be a Dispatcher if you are 18 years old, and have a GED or H.S. Diploma.

In most states, training will be provided by the agency that hires you. However in my state, Arkansas, there has been a push to "consolidate" dispatch centers. This makes it so there is only one 911 answering point (PSAP) per county. Some small counties have even contracted with larger surrounding counties to answer their 911 calls for them.

I give you that knowledge to show that many states are working on providing better training for dispatchers. There is a dispatch "academy" in Arkansas. Where dispatchers will go to the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy for a week to learn everything they need to know about being a Dispatcher. Although, I did not participate in this because there are online options as well through APCO (Association of Public Safety Communications Officers) and NENA (National Emergency Number Association) which is where I received my state-mandated 140 hours of training. Some states require more.

Benefits are dependent on where you work. Every single agency provides different benefits. My present agency gives me full health, vision, and dental insurance. I also make $32,000 a year. And since I work for a county-level 911 answering point, I am a public employee with state retirement benefits.

However, in a couple of days, I begin a new job at a new agency. At this specific agency, I will not be a Public Employee. I will have private retirement benefits and still have full insurance coverage. But the pay at this agency is $34,000 per year with overtime possibilities, etc.

----

Dispatching is very strange because it's different EVERYWHERE. City to City, County to County, State to State.

Some States (Vermont and Smaller States) have Public Safety Answering Points (911 Call Centers aka PSAPs) that are not attached to Public Safety Agencies. They are designated facilities to answer 911 Calls and send the requests to the agencies, which have their own dispatchers.

Some Cities have different 911 Answering Points. (ie, my new job. I will dispatch for the City Police and Fire Departments. Any Medical Calls will be sent to a Private EMS Company where a EMS Dispatcher will take the call.)

I could go on and on, but for simplicity's sake, Dispatching is an awesome career that I have fallen in love with and that has given me enough certifications that I could work anywhere in my state. The pay could be better, and the benefits as well. But the job security is amazing, you will never have to worry that you aren't needed.

Love Peace and Friendship wrote:

Oh wait no! I just meant the post was early; It wasn’t me. I actually did respond to you early though.

<.<

Volinovia wrote:

In most states, you can be a Dispatcher if you are 18 years old, and have a GED or H.S. Diploma.

In most states, training will be provided by the agency that hires you. However in my state, Arkansas, there has been a push to "consolidate" dispatch centers. This makes it so there is only one 911 answering point (PSAP) per county. Some small counties have even contracted with larger surrounding counties to answer their 911 calls for them.

I give you that knowledge to show that many states are working on providing better training for dispatchers. There is a dispatch "academy" in Arkansas. Where dispatchers will go to the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy for a week to learn everything they need to know about being a Dispatcher. Although, I did not participate in this because there are online options as well through APCO (Association of Public Safety Communications Officers) and NENA (National Emergency Number Association) which is where I received my state-mandated 140 hours of training. Some states require more.

Benefits are dependent on where you work. Every single agency provides different benefits. My present agency gives me full health, vision, and dental insurance. I also make $32,000 a year. And since I work for a county-level 911 answering point, I am a public employee with state retirement benefits.

However, in a couple of days, I begin a new job at a new agency. At this specific agency, I will not be a Public Employee. I will have private retirement benefits and still have full insurance coverage. But the pay at this agency is $34,000 per year with overtime possibilities, etc.

----

Dispatching is very strange because it's different EVERYWHERE. City to City, County to County, State to State.

Some States (Vermont and Smaller States) have Public Safety Answering Points (911 Call Centers aka PSAPs) that are not attached to Public Safety Agencies. They are designated facilities to answer 911 Calls and send the requests to the agencies, which have their own dispatchers.

Some Cities have different 911 Answering Points. (ie, my new job. I will dispatch for the City Police and Fire Departments. Any Medical Calls will be sent to a Private EMS Company where a EMS Dispatcher will take the call.)

I could go on and on, but for simplicity's sake, Dispatching is an awesome career that I have fallen in love with and that has given me enough certifications that I could work anywhere in my state. The pay could be better, and the benefits as well. But the job security is amazing, you will never have to worry that you aren't needed.

Damn, sounds like a really cool job, but I don't think I can handle the stress of dealing with emergencies as well as people panicking/screaming at you over the phone. Think I'll just stick to waitering while I finish my degree.