r/911dispatchers

For those who have moved on from 911, or even from their first center:

Where did you go that you didn’t have to take a drastic pay cut that you’re happy with? I make ~$28 not including my shift diff. I hate working nights, but I hate the day shift here. I hate the culture in the office outside of my shift. I don’t know who I can trust. I’ve been getting depressed and anxious every time I come in here. But at the same time, I do love what I do and I love helping people.

I’m not sure what my next move is. If I stay and suck it up for the paycheck, if I try something else. I’m only 23, I have all the time in the world ahead of me but rent and bills have to get paid regardless. I’m terrified of becoming the coworkers I hate but also terrified of starting over after three years in a career that I thought I’d retire from.

Thanks in advance ❤️

I'm about two months into my training at a police/fire/EMS dispatch center housed in a police department. I come mostly from working in youth development and social work roles, however I'm learning a lot about dispatching and love what I'm doing thus far. I've heard from everybody I'm training with, as well as my supervisors, that I'm ahead of the curve on my training, and am doing a wonderful job.

One thing I've noticed, however, is the amount of "dark humor" that everybody uses in dispatch, and to a lesser extent the entire police department. Coming from a social work background, I understand that vicarious trauma can result in a desensitized mindset over time, but the amount of mocking/rude comments I've witnessed dispatchers make over stressed out callers who walked in on dead loved ones is a little bit...jarring? I usually give colleague a puzzled look when they try and engage with me on this type of thing, and I'm usually met with "this is going to happen a lot, so get used to it", or the "we're nuts around here 🤪" comments that just kind of brush off the situation. It doesn't bother me on a personal level when people cope this way, I just feel that we should maintain a certain level of professionalism when talking about delicate situations, especially surrounding suicide calls or DOA calls? Is this a common sentiment in dispatch centers? It's really hard for me to gauge if this is normal, because I've witnessed EVERYBODY, including supervisors, do this.

Additionally, I notice that there is a distinct level of racism at my center that seems to be ingrained in the culture. I took a lunch break today with police colleagues who were making jokes about arabs, and then came back to dispatch to hear colleagues mocking a callers accent, and it just seems...exhausting?

I try to have thick skin about it, and don't want to bring this up directly, due to the amount of gossip I observe in the center from EVERYBODY, but first shift veterans and supervisors in specific. I've worked with quite a few first shifters who are complete rumor and gossip mills, and I don't really want to deal with that type of toxicity again after many years in the nonprofit world. I'm going into this field trying to remain as drama free as possible, I truly just want to work and go home, but I've definitely noticed a lot of fake behavior from people that makes me apprehensive to bring up my concerns to quite literally anybody, including those who I should be able to speak to in a confidential manner.

I guess my questions to the general community would be, 1) Am I too cautious/emotional in believing we should respect traumatized callers after we hang up? Is this something I should work on getting over/continue to actively ignore if I want to be successful in the field? And 2) Is dispatching that is physically housed separate from a police department any different culture wise (toxic masculinity dominated, right-leaning, etc.)? I plan to stay at my current center for a few years (at least five if everything goes well), and then moving states and keeping options open in terms of dispatching for fire departments, specific municipality versus whole county/multijuris, etc., so any insights into cultural differences amongst different types of centers is helpful to me in the long term!

I also hope this post doesn't come across as too critical of my colleagues or the work that dispatchers do, I'm just looking to gain a bit more insight into my morality struggles with the job thus far.

Thanks!

I'm applying for entry level dispatcher for elk grove pd. Does anyone have any insight on their process and what I can expect? I'm taking criticall on Saturday.

I'm currently going through the hiring process for 911 in Canada. I'm a single parent to 3 kids, 2 still at home, ages 16 and 12. My question comes because I have a friend who recently quit this job as she was missing time with her young children. My boys are older so it's not as big an issue as far as that goes, but she mentioned that "unless someone is actively dying in your family, you cannot leave work". The job I'm hiring for is the closest around and is 45 min away. I'm wondering how this would work if one of my kids gets sick during school hours and I'm unable to pick them up. I want to be very realistic about what this job would look like. Are there any other single parents who are making it work? I have family around but none who are available during the hours of 8-3:30 so that makes me question whether it's even a possibility.

Hi,

I’m writing this because I haven’t seen enough New Yorkers talking about there experience applying for the PCT position. Also if you have been or are currently an NYC PCT please consider writing about your experience so people have more insight (not just that you were stressed and left).

I applied for the PCT exam on Feb 23, 2026. I received the notification for the exam on April 7, 2026 for the exam date of April 21, 2026. I got my results and was invited on April 30, 2026 to fill out all the required paperwork for the job.

On May 8, 2026 I received my interview date of May 21, 2026. Yes, this was literally yesterday and I wanted to go over my experience and the information we received.

When you receive this invitation you get the address for the candidate center and time. When for applying for these types of roles (NYPD) you usually have to be there early at 6:30AM. You’ll be with all the other candidates depending on what they applied for PCT, PO, etc. I think my group had around 80 people.

We entered and they led us to the interview room with seats and started to process everyone. Once that was done (usually an hour) the PCT supervisors spoke about the role.

For the sake of the NYC candidates, they were very upfront about the expectations and stress of the job.

1. ⁠⁠Mandatory Overtime - you will be doing overtime…likely everyday. If you have children, fur babies, elderly you have to take care of, take this into consideration.(In NYC legally they can keep you up to 16 hours).
2. ⁠⁠Academy - this is three months and then you are put on ⁠the floor taking calls. Dispatch training comes later on once you get the hang of it and pass an exam (not sure of the order).
3. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule - schedule options have changed. 4 days on/3 days off are no longer an option. You will have 5 days on/ 2 off. Lie a regular 9-5 but with different times.
4. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Location - the main call center is located at 350 Marconi street in the Bronx. If you think weather, 4 hours of sleep, etc… is going to stop you from getting there take this into consideration. There is another location in Brooklyn but this is usually for those with seniority.

Interview Process
There were multiple supervisors and they seemed to all handle the process differently. I saw some people getting interviewed for around ten minutes. Luckily my supervisor was quick and sent me on(4 minutes).

Questions
Will I work overtime?
Where did I live?
Last she had me read a paragraph about a call.

They gave me a paper to move on to medical which involves EKG, an ear/eye test. Also at 6:30AM, this will be even longer because of other candidates so be prepared to be there all day (snacks, sandwiches).

Opinion
I was a little let down by the fact that the 4/3 schedule was removed. Obviously, it is to get PCTs to be at the dispatch center for more days because they have a high absenteeism. But this also allows for them to take even more advantage and have you there for MORE overtime. Imagine 5 days straight working 16 hours. I think they should fix the reason why there is such high absenteeism and make the role more appealing but I know that won’t happen. Also, the supervisors still have the 4/3 but they aren’t sure they will still have it (but they are in a union so I’m sure they’ll fight that, wish they did that for the newcomers). Anyway, I probably won’t be going forward in the process for this reason. Money is good but I did want the 4/3. Hr

I finally got the call/email to schedule my first interview for public dispatcher with CHP. I was surprised because several weeks ago I called their HR to learn the hiring process. HR said they don’t hire in bulk and train in big groups. They hire to backfill…. And internal applicants or lateral transfers are priority and usually openings are just one to three spots. I figured there isn’t a chance in hell if I am in line with just over 1000 other applicants on the eligibility list.

Maybe I still don’t have a chance and the interview is just because they need to stay HR compliant.

If anyone went through the first interview, can you share what’s next and any other tips

Hello,

I’ve been dispatching for 6 months so I’m a newbie here. I got hired ab a month or two after my coworker so I’m the lowest in seniority atm. Last time I worked with this person they had a traffic stop that turned into a CCH req for firearm disqualifications and running two guns for history. I know this person has been trained on how to do both things but I know for a fact they’ve been trained multiple times on running a gun. They were not able to run the gun bc thy “couldn’t find it” in our system and asking me for help while I’m actively toning out fire. So I had to stop what I was doing to and show them how to do it.I don’t have a problem helping bc I’m a newbie and ask questions, but this is definitely something we should know by now.

Long story short, would you tell your supervisor about this incident ? Knowing that if you do and the coworker gets talked to about it, they’ll probably know that I told my supervisor? Mind you, this coworker has been talked to A LOT and doesn’t seem to take that into consideration. Therefore continuing on with these bad habits on leaning heavily on their partner. Also, my center only has 2 dispatchers at a time so if I’m busy then they’re delaying info to an officer.

Been a journey to get here. I start beginning of June. A lot of emotions I started out on tribal law enforcement then had to get another job with a security company as a dispatcher all while grinding through background and that 700+ questions psych evaluation but I got the job.

This will be an atypical CTO vent as I was dealing with a highly competent trainee. He had been through two CTOs and didn’t get along with anyone, but coming with 18 years of experience in another department in emergency services (but not dispatch), he’s very good at the job. First of all he wears his old uniform to work, which keeps everyone aware he’s no ordinary trainee. Annoying but whatever. But when it comes to coaching he has a terrible bitchy attitude. If I try to correct him on anything he argues and even at one point raised his voice at me saying “I know!!” I am the nicest CTO in the whole center and always try to help and be patient. I have never encountered a trainee like this. I genuinely care about trainees as I remember how hard it was. Well apparently it’s not hard for HIM. He seems to approach everything as hostility directed at him. Later on in the day he just disrespects me and starts asking the supervisor questions that he should have asked me. Supervisor doesn’t do anything because we can’t afford to lose a good trainee. Hes good but not perfect, he still makes mistakes. He will not take any sort of correction without arguing. I still give him a good DOR due to him genuinely performing well. Then I find out he went to the supervisor and complained about me. I don’t know how to continue working with him. I’ve been nothing but nice to him. Other trainees all love me and want to be on my shift. I know it’s not me. I just pray he doesn’t come to my shift when he’s released. Trying to gain insights from other CTOs on how to deal with this, and hear some stories about how similar trainees ended up.

I am interested in a career in this role, but I have a general question.

If I start at one agency and work there for a couple of years and then need to move to a new city and a new agency, is it an advantage to the new city to hire me because I already have dispatch experience??

Or does it not even matter that I have previous experience? What are the agencies even basing their hiring decisions on?

Hey! I registered for the RCMP Dispatcher recruitment seminar next month. I originally was looking for a career as a 911 operator however E-Comm isn’t near where i live.

Are there any RCMP dispatchers here that can give me some tips on how to succeed with this career change? Currently right now I work in corporate fleet services and long term rentals so it’s a large transition.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

I got the email this morning from Metro(LVMPD) that I completed and passed everything within the background check and that I am eligible for hire. I also have completed background and lie detector for North Las Vegas police dept, I’m just waiting to hear back from them if I passed or not.

I’m so happy regardless because I’ve completed everything for both departments and I’ve been praying for this job and it feels like it’s within my grasp. This Reddit community has honestly kept me going by reading through everyone’s experiences and has helped prepare( even if not all the way with training and all) me for some of what’s to come.

So applied for Metro on Christmas Eve 12-24-2025 and only completed every thing now (May 2026) so my process took about 5 months. I figured my background didn’t take long because I’m only 21 and haven’t done much as I just graduated college last year. I had to complete the background, polygraph, and then psych test.

For North Las Vegas, I applied around February and am still in this process as I have completed the initial background and just completed the polygraph. They don’t require a psych exam. So this process was faster (3months so far) as I think they need dispatchers urgently so apply if you can.

hello everyone, i could really use some advice/support. i started working for a private ambulance company last month, and i feel completely out of my depth.

i have never done this kind of job before, i pretty much only have customer service experience. i have been doing call taking for a while, but now that they’re trying to put me on dispatching itself, i feel so lost and overwhelmed. my last shift was a complete nightmare, and now i’m afraid that this isn’t the job for me.

i was working an overnight shift, and they essentially threw me in after showing me how to do everything one time. i tried so hard to figure it out but they pretty much refused to help me so i could “figure it out by myself”. i ended up completely overwhelmed and confused, with zero help from my trainer, who started getting upset at me for making mistakes. i’ve cried so many times, and i know that it’s stupid, i just feel like i let my trainer and my coworkers down.

after that night, i’m honestly terrified that i’m never gonna get the hang of it. everything feels so overwhelming. i have terrible anxiety, so i might be overreacting, but i honestly don’t know.

Just wanted to vent, I feel like I can't fully express it to my family. I had went in for an observation back at the beginning of April, I fell in love with the job. My whole life I've struggled to find a career that I was passionate about, I've bounced around so many times, this was the first thing that popped out at me as something I'd love. I passed the typing test, then they invited me to take the Criticall test, I studied so hard for it, harder than the few college classes I've taken. Then it moved on to the job suitability test, I was nervous but not as much as I was for the Criticall, cause its just my personality and information, and I know I could handle the job, right? Guess not. I got the rejection email saying they've moved onto other applicants, I emailed back asking what disqualified me, cause how the hell am I supposed to improve if I don't know what was wrong? But they can't tell me, and I can't reapply until next year.

I tried not to get my hopes up for this, simply because of how many hoops you have to go through. But when I went in for an observation they told me they were desperate and to definitely apply if I thought I'd like it, so I guess I was a little hopeful that maybe I'd have a better shot since they needed help. I've been rejected from countless jobs, but this one hurt the most, its almost been two weeks since I got rejected and I can't stop thinking about it. I think it just hurts worse that it was my personality that made them stop considering me. Sorry for the rant, I've been following this community for awhile, especially since I started the application process. I just wanted to say it to other people who might have gone through the same.

That’s my goal anyway. I just have a few hurdles to overcome. I’m 27 if it matters.

There’s a course offered by a local agency that you can pay for and it provides you all the training that you need to become a dispatcher before you even apply. I am planning to take this course. I also love that it allows you field hours of training so you get a feel of what it’s really like before you commit. I think this will be good for me.

I have a clean record, a bachelor degree in communication, and over ten years of customer service experience. I also worked as a contractor for the U.S. Navy handling sensitive information.

The only issue is I have a lengthy mental health history. Anxiety, which I take medication for and no longer experience symptoms of (thanks to the medication), a history of PTSD (from five years ago, I no longer meet the criteria and I worked hard in therapy to develop coping skills to get better), and last but not least, schizophreniform disorder (not to be confused with schizophrenia). This is still a psychotic disorder, just with a much shorter duration than schizophrenia and I’m in remission now. I have never been hospitalized at all. I have a very brief history of self harm from shortly after high school where I tried it and didn’t like it, the only reason it’s in my therapy notes is because I told my therapist about it to keep her in the loop.

I work closely with a psychiatrist and plan to continue to do so. I’m excellent at recognizing when I need help and getting it promptly.

I will be 110% transparent about this during my psych eval but I’m worried it will be a permanent disqualification from every agency. Maybe waiting to have a few more years of stability under my belt could help? Should I discuss all this with the agency before I apply? Is there still a chance I could make it?

I have the opportunity to become an EMT through my local community college and I’m considering that as well. There’s no psych eval for that at least. Would becoming an EMT ever improve my chances of being a dispatcher later on?

Hello,

I have recently re-entered the job market (Talk about terrible timing), and I later received an email from my county saying I was accepted. I ended up chasing a separate lead so did not follow-up, so I got the normal rejection notice and a 1-year bar from applications.

Fast-forward two weeks, they email me again, except this is not automated, and said to disregard the rejection notice, my deadline was extended, to please fill out the same packets and follow up with them.

Yesterday, I completed both the packet and the follow-up initial assessment, and was immediately given a date to show up at the county for an in-person interview this same week. I am assuming this is the orientation interview?

Could you share what major milestones in this hiring process I should keep an eye on, and how to gauge the likelihood of this opportunity working out? For example, do most candidates wash after the first interview, what do you all find to be the most difficult portions of the process? Based on the information I shared, would you say this department is desperately trying to fill roles, and my odds are a bit stronger? How can I truly set myself ahead of the pack?

A bit about my professional background, I am a military infantry veteran, with a couple years spent in military police as well (familiarity with emergency services, dispatch etc), and I have a B.S in communications.

I started getting my FEMA and NDEMU certifications done for NIMS / ICS - among other courses like effective communicators, disaster certs. Before I dig into the longer hour courses, for successful candidates and current operators; ideally someone that works in or with hiring would you consider these to be beneficial to a candidate to have before the interview?

TL;DR

1. How can I stand out?

2. Are my odds good considering their deadline extensions?

3. Are NIMS/ICS/Disaster Communicator certs (all .gov), worth having?

4. Any training material or resources you can share with a potential candidate?

5. What should I be worried about, and what are the major milestones during the hiring process?

6. Rate the night shift vs day shift - Pros, Cons, general experiences. Is the differential worth pursuing?

7. Any key things interviewers look for during orientation and later interview stages?

8. Are pay scales / grades flexible, or is the posted pay the exact pay and not a flexible budget? Is this a negotiable number that I can say 'hey, look department in need, I have XYZ and 123; I'd like to be compensated a penny higher.' The reason I ask is that I would be taking a pay cut to come in as a Communications Officer I, and I am curious if, based on experience, we have an option to negotiate pay. They do not have a COII opening.

Appreciate you all. Hope to chat with some of you about it further. Feel free to drop reading material or resource links.

My agency currently has a new call take trainee who learned Spanish as her first language. She has shared with us that when she is thinking or processing what someone is saying to her, it is in Spanish in her mind. When she is taking a call she will hear their information in English, will process it in her mind in Spanish, and then document it in English. As the documentation needs to be in English on the cards.

Her concern is that during this process she may translate the information into the call notes incorrectly or with a different meaning and that this is slowing her down, to not meet our time of dropping the call within 30 seconds or less.

She speaks and understands English without issue.

Anyone who has experience with this we would love any advice on how you worked through it!

Thank you in advance 💛

I made it through training in 14 weeks and I’ve been on my own for 2 months, but for some reason I always have an intense feeling of dread? This dread is starting to make my life really difficult. I’m having trouble sleeping, I feel like I’m in a daze pretty often, and it’s affecting a lot of my personal relationships. I’m starting to wonder if this maybe isn’t for me or if this is growing pains?