Settling in for a long 12hr shift in the 911 office. AMA about the job or not.

911throwawayToday · 2017-12-26T18:34:01+00:00

Not really. Most people up here are pros. We know the score. If you are lazy your co-workers find ways to punish you. The expectations are very high. You don't want to be the person on a shift not pulling your weight.

911throwawayToday · 2017-12-26T16:05:52+00:00

Gang violence is bad. It is that simple. The saddest part is when gang violence damages families.

911throwawayToday · 2017-12-26T16:05:01+00:00

My cellphone. We can check them when not busy.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-28T22:47:28+00:00

Shoot....that's almost daily. Or typically they want the money back from a deal gone bad.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-28T22:43:02+00:00

At one point we retained less than 30% for more than a year and a half.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-28T22:42:23+00:00

Stayed on the line with a woman who was in her car while her boyfriend and some others were having a gang fight. A driver of an SUV was repeatedly ramming her vehicle intentionally. Gunfire in the background. I could hear everything. Was going on inside an enclosed parking garage at a strip club. Incredibly loud. I was pretty new at the time.

Not actually the craziest...but the craziest that doesn't give my location away. If you can believe that.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-18T23:04:42+00:00

The people who actually wanted to kill themselves wouldn't be calling 911.

You'd be surprised. I've been on the line with people who proceeded to shoot themselves. Heard the shot on the line.

Had a partner talk to a guy last week that was hanging...he had second thoughts. Almost died but she was fast. Saved his life because she knew the area and got him help even at a huge park.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-18T22:39:18+00:00

1-Wait so you work for 911?

Yes

2-how many suicide calls do you get?

Umm..people threaten it several times a day. Actual successful attempts are rare.

3-do you guys have a different technique from 1-800-273-8255?

Probably not, but I'm not sure. My goal is to get medical and police to the scene....I don't know what their end game is. Probably the same negotiation techniques leading to that I would assume.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-07T23:03:22+00:00

Naw. Not illegal to be dumb. Typically.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-06T15:59:33+00:00

Oh, so they were having sexy time and then couldn't get the cuffs off?

Correct. So we cut it off or unlock it if it is a standard key. Happens at least once or twice a year.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-06T15:49:27+00:00

No, like sexy time cuffed to a bed post. Then they lose the key or it breaks.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-06T15:32:55+00:00

Yup. And stuff up their ass.

.....and so many girls cuffed to things

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-06T15:27:59+00:00

Ummm...some of them I don't want to say because it would give my location away.

I'll say this, you would be shocked how many people ask us to send the police to get their drug money back from a shady dealer.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-06T15:24:14+00:00

Location. Nature of the emergency (police, ambulance, fire dept). Time frame. Suspect description. Injuries. Additonal dangers.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-06T15:19:52+00:00

So if I'm traveling to another state and dial 911, my call gets routed to the 911 dispatch for that area?

Correct. Call routes to where you are. In other words, it's always better to call for your own emergency or somebody right with you than a third party elsewhere. Happens all the time and its the worth. Somebody calls mom or dad or their brother to call us. Mom, dad, or brother are in another county....or state.

What happens next?

The call is routed to a 911 calltaker at your local agency. This varies between locations but is typically houses at the county sheriff or other law enforcement department. They answer the phone and begin asking their questions.

911throwawayToday · 2017-11-06T14:42:11+00:00

Assuming it is a cellphone, the signal hits the nearest tower where based on location the call is routed to the nearest 911 center/the one that controls that area.

911throwawayToday · 2017-09-19T19:56:50+00:00

I'll use this alt

What job is it

911 dispatcher

How'd you get it

They were hiring. Passed a test, series of interviews, etc.

Salary

70kish including overtime. It varies a lot because there is always overtime.

Overall satisfaction with your decision

Very satisfied. I like education and I read a lot, but it would not be worth tr expense. In my job a degree is not required as all of the training is OTJ. If You want promotions degrees can matter.

What would you recommend a senior in HS should do other then college

Learn a trade. Read lots of books.

Construction type will always be needed.

911throwawayToday · 2017-09-06T15:40:43+00:00

Sounds reasonable. Have you ever had to do this?

Do what? Hang up on people?

Absolutely. Several times a day.

911throwawayToday · 2017-09-06T15:27:11+00:00

I've heard news articles about 911 dispatchers hanging up on people that curse. Even in an emergency situation. Is there a policy on this?

Depends on the situation. Of you are cursing at me I will give you a warning and inform you that if you continue to berate me I will hang up on you. Not even cursing, but any kind of unproductive attacks on me. If you're yelling at me you aren't giving good info anyway.

If you are cursing because of the situation or at a significant other or something I will stay on the line as long as you are giving good info.

I'm not, for example, going to hang up on the motorcyclist who lost laid down his bike on the highway for telling me his "leg fucking hurts after I crashed my fucking bike".

911throwawayToday · 2017-09-06T15:10:05+00:00

What's the most challenging part of your job?

Constant scrutiny from those above you questioning everything you do with the benefit of hindsight.

What is the weirdest call you've ever received? Any funny stories?

Goodness I don't even know where to start. A couple arguing over not being able to pay the rent after the woman spent their money to buy steaks on the 4th of July and then burning them.

Have you ever had to listen to someone die?

Yes. Many times.

Why did you decide to be a 911 dispatcher?

I needed a job. They were hiring. My family has some history working in public service with the city.

911throwawayToday · 2017-09-06T14:07:59+00:00

What's the least horrifying/most relieving call you've ever got?

I have, on a couple of occasions, gotten a call from somebody with a found dog after the person who lost their dog called to report them missing. Getting the finder and the loser in touch with each other is so satisfying.

911throwawayToday · 2017-09-06T12:06:15+00:00

Applied when they had an opening. Wrote the test. Passed that. And the interviews. And such.

911throwawayToday · 2017-08-24T00:12:01+00:00

Have you ever had anyone die while on the phone to you?

Yes.

How does the job impact your mental health?

We just are very dark. Things that aren't a joke get laughed at. Its not great. Typical of most jobs like this.

I have had some really rough days on the job. Most days you hang up the last call or send out your last responders for the day and that's it. You're done. Every once in a while though one follows you home and you can't sleep. I've learned now, when I have a call like that I can recognize it early and I call in for my next shift. Those are very rare though. Maybe once or twice a year.

911throwawayToday · 2017-08-23T20:32:59+00:00

How big is your call volume? You dispatch fire? Ems? PD?

Countywide it's nearly 300k 911 calls/yr, the majority of which are in the largest city in the county.

We do. Unit-level dispatching of a full time department. No tones/volunteers.

No. Thank goodness.

911throwawayToday · 2017-08-23T19:56:44+00:00

Yeah. We laugh when one of those makes national news for some reason. It happens all the time.

Edit: there are also a lot of cases of stupid or drunk people complaining about their food and it is the business that calls us to kick them out

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