About This Career

Operates telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Takes information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security cluster Emergency and Fire Management Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Provides emergency medical instructions to callers.
• Questions callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
• Determines response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatches units in accordance with established procedures.
• Receives 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.
• Relays information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
• Records details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
• Monitors various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.
• Reads and effectively interprets small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.
• Maintains access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials.
• Enters, updates, and retrieves information from teletype networks and computerized data systems regarding such things as wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and stolen vehicles.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Picking out a particular sound in the presence of other sounds
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Rotating shift work
• Weekend work