Police, Fire, & Ambulance Dispatchers
Also called: Dispatcher, Communications Operator, Public Safety Dispatcher, Communications Officer
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
- Question callers to determine their locations, and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
- Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information and after hours calls for departments within a city.
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
Business
Communications
Safety and Government
Arts and Humanities
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Basic Skills
Problem Solving
Social
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Verbal
Attention
Ideas and Logic
Visual Understanding
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People interested in this work like activities that include
data, detail, and regular routines. They do well at jobs that need:
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You might use software like this on the job: Data base user interface and query software
Helpdesk or call center software
Word processing software
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You might like a career in one of these industries:
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers.