Posted: 11/4/2011 9:18:08 PM EDT
| Anyone here work in the profession? A local county just had a position open up and it is .60 fte. Anyway I figure it may set me up well for when I'm 21 and apply to be a deputy in this county or my home county. If I understand this correctly this job is 60 percent full time which equates to 24 hrs a week? |
|
Quoted:
My wife is, several of her co workers have gone from the radio room to the street. She's planning on it if I get on as a deputy. Good to know. Presently I am in college been there since I was 16 (dual enrollment deal while in hs). Currently 20 and turn 21 next September. In regards to this .6 fte deal that would work perfect with my schedule and I would volunteer to work nights and or all holidays and weekends. Does this sound like something I should fo with? Been in ems/fire coming up on 3 years now. Combine dispatching experience with EMT/B, pretty good knowledge of Spanish, a BS and 3 AA degrees I figure i could get a chance at being an entry level hire. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
My wife is, several of her co workers have gone from the radio room to the street. She's planning on it if I get on as a deputy. Good to know. Presently I am in college been there since I was 16 (dual enrollment deal while in hs). Currently 20 and turn 21 next September. In regards to this .6 fte deal that would work perfect with my schedule and I would volunteer to work nights and or all holidays and weekends. Does this sound like something I should fo with? Been in ems/fire coming up on 3 years now. Combine dispatching experience with EMT/B, pretty good knowledge of Spanish, a BS and 3 AA degrees I figure i could get a chance at being an entry level hire. Speaking spanish alone should make you a shoe in, it would here anyway. Honestly, I'd call you over qualified.  Most of the dispatchers here came straight off the straight with zero experience.
|
| I went from dispatch to the road. I really had no desire to go into to law enforcement, I just took the job for the pay and benefits. Ended up liking the field with a desire to go to the road. My Lt. actually approached me about. We went to the Chief and a couple months later I was in school. Been on the road around two years now. |
|
Quoted:
I went from dispatch to the road. I really had no desire to go into to law enforcement, I just took the job for the pay and benefits. Ended up liking the field with a desire to go to the road. My Lt. actually approached me about. We went to the Chief and a couple months later I was in school. Been on the road around two years now. So its perhaps understand that individuals may jump into dispatching as a stepping stone to the road? |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I went from dispatch to the road. I really had no desire to go into to law enforcement, I just took the job for the pay and benefits. Ended up liking the field with a desire to go to the road. My Lt. actually approached me about. We went to the Chief and a couple months later I was in school. Been on the road around two years now. So its perhaps understand that individuals may jump into dispatching as a stepping stone to the road? Yep. One of our SGTs here worked as a dispatcher for 3 years because he didn't have enough money to go through the academy. We had a deputy position open up, he talked to the sheriff about applying, lo and behold they sponsored him to go through the academy and he hit the streets. Another alternative would be going from the jail to the streets. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I went from dispatch to the road. I really had no desire to go into to law enforcement, I just took the job for the pay and benefits. Ended up liking the field with a desire to go to the road. My Lt. actually approached me about. We went to the Chief and a couple months later I was in school. Been on the road around two years now. So its perhaps understand that individuals may jump into dispatching as a stepping stone to the road? Yep. One of our SGTs here worked as a dispatcher for 3 years because he didn't have enough money to go through the academy. We had a deputy position open up, he talked to the sheriff about applying, lo and behold they sponsored him to go through the academy and he hit the streets. Another alternative would be going from the jail to the streets. We're lucky here, the ONLY way to attend a police Academy is for an LEA to send you, at their expense, as their employee. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I went from dispatch to the road. I really had no desire to go into to law enforcement, I just took the job for the pay and benefits. Ended up liking the field with a desire to go to the road. My Lt. actually approached me about. We went to the Chief and a couple months later I was in school. Been on the road around two years now. So its perhaps understand that individuals may jump into dispatching as a stepping stone to the road? Yep. One of our SGTs here worked as a dispatcher for 3 years because he didn't have enough money to go through the academy. We had a deputy position open up, he talked to the sheriff about applying, lo and behold they sponsored him to go through the academy and he hit the streets. Another alternative would be going from the jail to the streets. We're lucky here, the ONLY way to attend a police Academy is for an LEA to send you, at their expense, as their employee. Same here. I've had family go the corrections to road aspect, one actually reserved on the road and hated it so he stayed in the jail and liked it. I don't really think a jail setting would be good for me, I prefer the idea of the road. Anyway I'll apply for this position and see what happens. |
|
I set about filling out the application. Should I list decent my decent spanish speaking ability? Its been a couple of years maybe even 3 since my last high school spanish class. I've used it a bit for EMS so I can ask the necessary questions, name, location, source of pain, etc.
In other news it asked for "sex" and I said yes please. Just kidding
|
|
I dispatched for about 2 years during college for a place that services 1 PD, 1 EMS company and 10 fire departments. I loved it, I would go back and do it part time right now if I could honestly.
If you don't suck at multitasking and know how to communicate clearly you will do fine. |
|
Quoted:
I dispatched for about 2 years during college for a place that services 1 PD, 1 EMS company and 10 fire departments. I loved it, I would go back and do it part time right now if I could honestly. If you don't suck at multitasking and know how to communicate clearly you will do fine. I'm wondering if it will give me an advantage knowing what will be taken down, what emergency vehicles will relay/need etc. I know what my dispatch always relays to me so I think it would be helpful. What kind of Multitasking test will they give me, most likely? I'd assume the listening to one call while taking down numbers or colors from another? Or watching a video while listening to a caller something like that. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Full-time dispatcher for nearly 11 years now, also a part-time officer. I told my boss' boss' boss on Thursday that I'd walk out on her and go paint lines in the parking lot if I could afford the pay cut. Meaning its not such a good job? It's a good way to get in to LE. |
|
Good way to get to road is dependent on how your municipality is set up.
In my area, dispatch is a consolidated PSAP staffed by civilians, and not many people make the jump over. Not a lot of face time with the road guys so they don't know us real well. (Doesn't hurt that a dispatcher is one pay grade below a road patrol deputy. Why leave TV, internet, and air-conditioned comfort to go deal with the same customers in person that we don't like dealing with on the phone? )
Been doing this for seven years, and while I can imagine doing other stuff, I generally like my job. |
|
Quoted:
Good way to get to road is dependent on how your municipality is set up. In my area, dispatch is a consolidated PSAP staffed by civilians, and not many people make the jump over. Not a lot of face time with the road guys so they don't know us real well. (Doesn't hurt that a dispatcher is one pay grade below a road patrol deputy. Why leave TV, internet, and air-conditioned comfort to go deal with the same customers in person that we don't like dealing with on the phone? )
Been doing this for seven years, and while I can imagine doing other stuff, I generally like my job. Yeah I know that we get state retirement. In addition the pay is something like 16.50-21 per hour with benefits granted its like 24 hours a week of work. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I went from dispatch to the road. I really had no desire to go into to law enforcement, I just took the job for the pay and benefits. Ended up liking the field with a desire to go to the road. My Lt. actually approached me about. We went to the Chief and a couple months later I was in school. Been on the road around two years now. So its perhaps understand that individuals may jump into dispatching as a stepping stone to the road? That's going to vary from agency to agency. So far as I know I am only the second. Other guy ended up as a Lt. before he left. My agency is set up to where you work on a regular shift, you are supervised by a road Lt. You see the Chief everyday. So if it's something you have aspirations for it's certainly doable. But with more and more places going to centralized 911 centers I don't think it's going to be that common. |
|
I'm at the console.. Spent some time in corrections, couldn't stand the smell.. I've been told academy would be a waste of my time and money since I have nystagmus, and no one will hire me.. Look that up, so you'll be one step ahead of your peers.. Have an interview on Wednesday to be Auxiliary, at least I can direct traffic and check id's..  One of our LT's started in dispatch, worked his way through academy to the road, to brass.. He's the only one I have much respect for.. |
|
I worked my way up from the jail, dispatch to finally the road. Working in these areas will give you an appreciation for communications once you break out. I'm able to pretty much tell who never worked a day in dispatch from listening to the radio. While you're blurting out a million things, the phones are ringing and he/she's probably operating multiple terminals. Take care of your dispatchers and they'll take care of you. If you have any questions, feel free to IM me. |
|
I started in dispatch in August 2004 with the S.O. In July 2005, I went to the jail. I went to Cat 1 POST in the fall of 2006. In April 2007, I went to the road as a resident deputy in the north end of the county. In late 2008, I was promoted to Sgt, and have been there since. Getting your foot in the door is definately worth it, IMO. I also believe that working in dispatch gives the deputy a different appreciation for what actually goes on in there. Having a good college education will also be helpful down the road, especially when you get into the supervisory/admin levels.
Good luck. |
|
Quoted:
I started in dispatch in August 2004 with the S.O. In July 2005, I went to the jail. I went to Cat 1 POST in the fall of 2006. In April 2007, I went to the road as a resident deputy in the north end of the county. In late 2008, I was promoted to Sgt, and have been there since. Getting your foot in the door is definately worth it, IMO. I also believe that working in dispatch gives the deputy a different appreciation for what actually goes on in there. Having a good college education will also be helpful down the road, especially when you get into the supervisory/admin levels. Good luck. Thanks bud. |
| In my department the 911 operators handle Police, Fire and EMS calls and give basic life saving over the phone. Dispatchers are separate and all are civilians. The Supervisor for both is a Sergeant (I'm the one on Midnight shift) and make certain notifications and keep the place running smoothly. Almost all of our personnel are women and that has caused some issues. I like my job because of the hours, I could do without the inner office drama. |
|
Hey guys I got an invite for the written test (nothing special I don't believe), then I get invited to the multi tasking test (top 10 from the written), then the top few from that get invited to a sit in at the dispatch center with a trainer, and then the oral boards and then the state academy.
|
|
Quoted:
Hey guys I got an invite for the written test (nothing special I don't believe), then I get invited to the multi tasking test (top 10 from the written), then the top few from that get invited to a sit in at the dispatch center with a trainer, and then the oral boards and then the state academy. Hi Here's the process I went through to be hired as a 911 police call evaluator: initial application/screening, "Criti-call" simulation skill test (multi tasking), panel interview, polygraph, security checks, sit along shift, and final selection. The whole process took me about 3 months. The hardest part was the simulation testing. I was most nervous about the panel interview but it went well. The polygraph was pretty interesting . I had to practice some typing drills to meet the minimum speed (35 wpm). Our department services the city (1 million people +) and rural areas with police, fire and EMS. My class begins 9 weeks of training next week, and I am looking forward to doing the job.
Best of luck to you. 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Hey guys I got an invite for the written test (nothing special I don't believe), then I get invited to the multi tasking test (top 10 from the written), then the top few from that get invited to a sit in at the dispatch center with a trainer, and then the oral boards and then the state academy. Hi Here's the process I went through to be hired as a 911 police call evaluator: initial application/screening, "Criti-call" simulation skill test (multi tasking), panel interview, polygraph, security checks, sit along shift, and final selection. The whole process took me about 3 months. The hardest part was the simulation testing. I was most nervous about the panel interview but it went well. The polygraph was pretty interesting . I had to practice some typing drills to meet the minimum speed (35 wpm). Our department services the city (1 million people +) and rural areas with police, fire and EMS. My class begins 9 weeks of training next week, and I am looking forward to doing the job.
Best of luck to you. Thanks for the info appears that this process is accelerated about 1 month from app to board interview. They need people in a bad way. The training at the state academy will be 2 weeks. Any idea if its typical to get paid full time salary for attending training? I'm a full time college student online so it would be nice to get full time pay before I go to part time status (which is what the position was). Plan to offer my self for weekends, holidays and nights. Typing shouldn't be an issue this site and being an online college student since I was 16 has my wpm at like 60 or so. Required 40....
|