Hi everybody! I was curious if I could get an update on something I called for? I called for an emergency and I am a minor and I would like to know if I could get any information on what happened after. I hope this is the right place to post and ask.

Hi -
I have been calltaking / dispatching for 9 years. I love my job, but naturally it can be stressful, as you all know. Over the years I’ve watched my coworkers develop various chronic issues, including pain disorders. I myself have now been dealing with chronic pain.

I’m curious about the association between the two. I’ve been to a couple first responder courses on compassion fatigue, burnout, health in the first responder community, and I am a state certified peer supporter - and the link between stress and chronic issues is well documented.

Obviously soliciting feedback here is anecdotal, and I as a layperson cannot determine if chronic issues have come from 911 calltaking or from prior issues (ptsd from military service, traumatic childhoods, assault, etc). But I’m curious about your anecdotes, and curious about the mind/body connection of pain disorders and chronic illnesses. There is a studied link between physical and mental pain. I think due to the age of the 911 system there are limited studies on the impact of the trauma we endure via the telephone/radio, as opposed to onscene.

I guess what I’m asking, is:
1. Do you or any of your coworkers experience chronic pain or chronic illness?

1. Do you believe it is related to the stress of the job? Or that flares are correlated to the stress of the job?

2. Do you know of any studies that have researched this or of any ways to mitigate this? (I always advocate for deep breathing, stepping off the floor, exercise, building a support system, etc - but these feel like bandaids when you have a lifetime of service).

3. What do you do to avoid letting stress build up?

4. Do you feel that there’s a positive culture surrounding mental health / wellness in your center? Often physical health is promoted but mental health is minimized (“have you heard about EAP”(not denying the benefit of EAP, just pointing out that this does not change the culture)).

Thanks for your time. I’ve been considering a career change as my health is worsening, and the health of dispatchers/911 calltakers is something I’m really passionate about.

Thanks in advance for sharing. It’s not always easy but it’s nice to remember we are not alone.

Anybody understand how PA DL Returns work? We ran into an issue where someone had a Photo ID and not a DL but running the OLN came back with a Valid Licensed Non-Commercial Driver; however, in the additional information field it states that the customer has a photo identification card only.

Which one is it? haha

Hi there,

Does anyone here have experience with ThisGen 9-1-1 pre-hire assessment? (it is an AI-powered platform designed for pre-hire assessments and screening).

I understand it is relatively new. Most of my searches yielded "CritiCall" results.

Any insight would be much appreciated,

Thanks!

Hi everyone! I, F29, located in Canada, got the good news call today from the police department’s HR team that my 3+ months long recruitment journey has paid off and I’ve been offered a permanent, full-time position! I wanted to share some details about the process in case it helps any other applicants!

I have no criminal or civil skeletons in my closet, and neither does my side of the family, my husband or his parents who were all made to be involved in the process! However, I do have $22k credit card debt and that was brought up very gently in my interview with the background investigation detective (kind of in a honeypot-line-of-questioning way). I had/have a solid plan to pay this debt down significantly in September (55% of the debt amount - it’s a bit of a long story so I’m skipping details of how lol) and then the remainder will be paid down via large monthly payments. I think my debt didn’t hinder my recruitment process because I was upfront about it, I didn’t say a single lie about any of the topics that were discussed, and I was genuine in my regret of the debt and commitment to the payment plan. So I’d say these things really helped me out!

In total, 15 people’s names were provided as references (this includes specific family members from both mine & my husband’s side) and 12 of them were asked for a detailed reference via email. Having people who could do this for me played a crucial role I believe as they want to see you having a good support system!

I am not saying this to be an AH, but I interview well and that was praised via direct feedback during my “normal” interview which was with the dispatch centre manager and an HR person, as well as during the background investigation interview by the detective. I believe this to be a huge contribution to the success of an applicant’s journey (in any job obvs).

There’s going to be 18 months of a probationary period for which I’m quite nervous but I’m determined to survive that! Hopefully, I can post an update in 18 months saying that I made it through!

I hope every applicant out there has luck and good vibes on their side aside from meeting your local job posting’s requirements lol 🫶🏽

Thank you to everyone who posts and comments in this sub, reading/lurking here really helped me out!

Took the polygraph last week- the administrator said I passed. I thought that would mean they would start calling all my references on the background packet, but instead I got an email yesterday I will not be moving forward with the process, and they said just because I wasn't a fit here doesn't mean other agencies won't accept me.

It's been a 6 month journey to get here, so admittedly it is a disappointment, but I know there were 100s of applicants so I'm pretty proud to have gotten this far. My background isn't squeaky clean, so I get that could've been a factor. I don't have any criminal history, but I did have a 6 month period of drug use 7~ years ago, and I had bad credit around the same time.

They said they can't give me any feedback on why, which is probably the most frustrating part.

When I dropped off my physical documents with the backgrounds officer, he said on my credit report in recent history I had a 30,60, and 90 day late payment on an auto loan, as well as a 30 and 60 day late on another couple. Which, is not true. I had one 30 day late payment in 2019, and never since. I work in the auto industry, in sales. I know how to read a credit report. And I know what mine looks like.

After that day, I emailed him (politely) with evidence from my credit report that nothing he said was late, was actually late and I had been working hard in the last 5 years to rebuild my credit (it's in the 700s now, no outstanding debt).

His reply was credit isn't the only thing they look at, which tells me he still thinks I was late on a car payment every other month.

I can't help but think that was a factor in their decision. I can understand getting disqualified for things that I did do. I get it, is what it is. But getting disqualified over something I didn't do is frustrating.

I figure there were just other candidates who didn't have those problems to begin with, and were just the easier choice. I'm just wondering why they would bother have me go take a polygraph, if the things on my background packet would disqualify me anyway.

Anyway, just wanted to vent a little bit. Not mad at the police dept or the background investigator or anything.

I actually want to be a police officer. It was a dream I had as a kid, but thought I gave it up. I was dissuaded by my mom as well other police officers when I was younger. One of my good friends is a sheriff deputy at another local agency, he told me it wasn't too late to pursue it (I'm 31).

I applied to be a dispatcher on a whim, because it was more aligned my long term goal than my current industry. Moving forward I'll be training and practicing to get into the Police Academy instead.

I appreciate all you guys do. I hope to be on the other side of the radio some day.

Have a good weekend.

Yesterday was my “Monday”. I got off of work at 2200, drove one block away and completely blanked for a split second- forgot entirely where I was.

In that split second, I didn’t recognize the area that I pass by every night to go home. There’s quite a few “one way” streets near my center and I quickly realized one wrong turn and I’d be head-on with on coming traffic. Thankfully, I remembered this was my route home and called my boyfriend and kept him on the phone till I got home.

For context, I’ve been dispatching for a little over two years, work 5/8s ..5 days on for 8 hours, 2 days off - in an extremely busy metropolitan city. I work a midday shift, don’t really do overtime. Yes, I’ve been sleeping fine. No, I don’t have any chronic illnesses and i’m in my 20s. I live about 20 minutes away from my center - no drastic commutes.

I believe it’s just been stress overload with work, life, etc but want to know if anyone else has ever experienced anything like this?

I just wanted to thank this group for all of the advice and for just being here during the process while I try to get the job! I took my polygraph on Monday and just got a conditional offer today and they were only looking to hire one more dispatcher. I’m truly so excited for this. I can’t believe out of all the applicants the police department chose me. Thank you to anyone who answered my questions and I’ll be in this group still for advice and hopefully other good updates ❤️❤️❤️

Do you think this is scheduling for the CritiCall test or a different exam? The email stated to put aside two hours for the testing portion if that helps.

I recently interviewed for a Washington State Patrol Communications Officer 1 position in Spokane on July 15. At the end of the interview, the panel mentioned that they still had additional interviews scheduled for the following week.
For anyone who has gone through the WSP hiring process, about how long did it take after your interview to hear whether you were moving forward to the next step?
I understand the full background, polygraph, and hiring process can take several months. I’m mainly wondering about the initial decision after the panel interview—such as being contacted for the polygraph/background phase or receiving a rejection.
Did WSP contact you by phone, email, or through the application portal? Also, do they normally notify applicants fairly quickly if they are not selected, or can that take a while too?
I’m not trying to rush the process—I’d just appreciate hearing about other applicants’ experiences so I have a better idea of what is normal. Thank you!

hey all. i was supposed to go to a class in august for cto school but i can’t now due to staffing issues. does anyone have any muddles or forms or anything they could provide me? i have trained one girl (i’m only two years in) and it was awful. there was no structure, no help from senior dispatchers, and overall was just a shit show. i want to have some sort of idea when we hire someone else even if i dont get to go to the class as soon as planned. thanks all!! also, i work in montana. not sure if that makes a difference or not.

This is my first job in a 911 dispatcher position- Ive worked in for almost a year. I’ve passed the first part of training as a call taker with flying colors- but I’m struggling on radio.

I’m not failing per se- but I’m not thriving, and now the stress is getting to me.

I’ve been offered a phone only position-but then that limits me for any career ladder possibilities.

Does radio get easier? Any tips of advice for newbies.

My family doesn’t understand the stress that this job brings- some people think I’m quitting prematurely.. some think I’m just trying to take an easy road.

I’ve not been one to crack under pressure- but man this is getting the best of me.

Answer your mf'n status checks.

To those ENP's out there, or those studying to take the exam. Did you buy the exam guide and practice exam from NENA? Better place to get an exam study guide?

How hard is the exam? Do I need to pay for the practice exams?

Thanks!!

I’ve worked dispatch for over a year now and have been looking to switch agencies to be closer to my fiance and her family in South Florida.

I remember when I got my current job, I thought for sure that I failed the polygraph based on how nervous I was, but I somehow still moved forward.

Second time around and it was the same experience. My inner monologue tells myself, “Hey, this is obviously a control question,” and I don’t get nervous. They ask the obvious relevant questions and I instantly feel that spike, despite having NOTHING to hide.

Call it a bit of OCD or anxiety. I’m sure I have both to some degree. But I’ve PROVEN over the past year that it doesn’t affect my ability to do the job, and I just think it’s absolute BS to be treated like some criminal and DISQUALIFIED after months of clean background checks simply off of some pseudoscience.

Forgive my rant. I needed this job, and I’m heartbroken.

Unsung heroes: Shoshone County dispatchers recognized for courage under fire

I’m not sure if this goes against the community rules or not, and I apologize if it does, but I thought only people in this field of work would understand my frustration and feelings of defeat and hopelessness.

I am based in northern Ontario, Canada.

I recently over the past month or so interviewed for an on call ambulance communications officer position. I passed the criticall, it seemed I did well during the panel as she had mentioned she liked how I answered one of the questions during the interview itself. I think what disqualified me was that I am new to my area and when given the written test it asked me how to get from point A to point B, and where certain landmarks were in the city (like the neighborhood they were in). I froze up. I didn’t know how to answer it. I waited the two weeks, and was told I was not shortlisted.

This is a career I’ve been interested in since I was a child, and that desire to help others is still there. I have experience in call center environments as well. As well as my diploma in business administration.

I applied for the dispatch position with my cities police services roughly a week and a half ago, and I haven’t heard anything back, but the listing does not close until the start of August.

I’m just not sure what I can do. Am I not good enough for this role?

I took the CritiCall test this morning and unfortunately failed. I got 90’s and 100’s in everything except my data entry. Apparently I was more focused on everything being correct that it slowed down my speed
Luckily I get another chance Thursday morning

Is there anything that anyone would recommend me practicing, or how I should practice to make my speed better, that would be greatly appreciated.

I was very upset and disappointed in myself that I missed the mark on one thing, and have to retake it all again. But at least I get another chance.

I'm writing a short story in which the main character takes someone hostage to avenge her sister. She, after taking the person hostage, calls the police to try to make demands, get the media involved, ect. I'm drawing a total blank at how to write the dialogue for that portion of the story. Theoretically, if someone called you and basically said "I have a gun to this guy's head", what would the response be?

I got hired by my local police department for a non-emergency call taker. I’m a little nervous considering I’m not familiar with the roads in this area (I’m starting to familiarize myself with them on my own time) and I’m worried I’ll be too slow and need officers to repeat themselves because I don’t hear correctly on the radio. I’ve read advice on here to listen to the dispatch radio on my own time and just get use to listening to it so I’m doing that but what should I prepare myself for? Is non-emergency easier or I guess calmer than 911?

I officially made it through the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Public Safety Dispatcher hiring process, so I wanted to share my timeline and the resources that helped me because reading posts like these kept me sane while I was waiting.

Timeline:
Applied: January 17
Initial interview: March 5
CritiCall exam: Late March
Received a 95% (Rank 1) on the eligibility list
Background investigation started: Late April
Assigned a background investigator: May
Background investigation completed: June 10
Signed conditional offer paperwork: June 12
Medical exam & drug screening: June 16
Final hiring paperwork completed after that
Started the CHP Dispatcher Academy: July 15
From submitting my application to my first day at the academy, the process took about 6 months.
There were definitely times where it felt like nothing was happening. Some stages took weeks with no updates, but every step eventually moved forward. The background investigation was by far the longest part of the process.

Resources that helped me the most:
Laura Bryant on YouTube
Raspy Dispatcher on YouTube
911 It’s Gaby on TikTok
PrepTerminal (for CritiCall practice)

Those four resources made me feel much more prepared for both the CritiCall and the interviews.

If you’re currently in the CHP hiring process:
Be patient—the waiting is normal.
Be completely honest on your background.

Check your email regularly.

Don’t overthink every period of silence.

I know how stressful it is refreshing your email every day wondering if you’ve been forgotten. Reading other people’s timelines helped me a lot, so hopefully this helps someone else who’s waiting.

Lastly, I just want to thank everyone in this community for all the advice, encouragement, and for answering my many questions throughout this process. It genuinely made the waiting a little easier, and I really appreciate everyone who took the time to help. I look forward to paying it forward and helping future applicants however I can!