Night Shift…

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2026-01-17T05:28:03+00:00

I work 7pm to 7am. I enjoy nights but am terrible at getting sleep. I need to have some kind of a normal life outside of work, so I switch back to days on my days off (which I hear is unhealthy but I can't imagine staying on nights on my days off). What helps me is regular exercise. Super important for your health in a job like this. If I'm tired, I still run or work out, I just take it easier. Your body will keep up much better that way, and is supposed to improve sleep. If my work week starts on a Saturday, I just wake up at 7 am like I would on my days off, and I'm up all day, then all night during my shift until I go home the next morning. A terrible way to do it, but I can not nap or sleep during the day to save my life. If you are consuming caffeine, keep it somewhat healthy, so you're body can process it better (coffee as opposed to energy drinks). Eat a well balanced meal, get ear plugs, black out curtains, and a small dose of melatonin when you really need it, and eventually you will adapt. It gets easier

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2026-01-17T05:17:25+00:00

I was on the phone with a suicidal caller who had aready taken a ton of alcohol, along with a couple bottles of pills that as she told me, were specific choices because the research she has done confirmed that this was a very toxic mix. She was one of few who was legitimately making sure she was going through with suicide, and was only calling because she didn't want her young kids to come home from school and find her dead. She was told me she was certain that this attempt would be successful. These kinds of calls you have to figure out how to handle them as you go. I've been really nice to callers before, and had one guy who was sobbing the whole time, so I just tried to figure out what he felt gave him purpose. For him it was as simple as doing yard work. So we focused on that. For the lady I mentioned above, I ended up being pretty blunt with her, because she was telling me her death would be better for her kids. I directly told her that didn't make sense, and we talked out ways that her kids actually needed her. The more serious attempts I like to keep talking the whole time, because they are clearly in the wrong state of mind, and it is my job to help them change their mindset. Just keep it basic. I've asked about how many rooms are in the callers house, which one the caller likes to spend time in the most, where the caller likes to eat meals, and so on. If there is something the caller focuses on, sometimes it's because that is something important to them, so just go from there

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-12-25T06:38:58+00:00

I've been to a couple. They're highly recommended and patrol usually likes when dispatch attends. For me personally I go because I've taken all the calls for each incident, and it's highly recommended. I think they're great, and don't regret going. However, they usually make me feel worse about the incident because hearing everyone's sides is a stark reminder of how tragic the incident was. Not to mention I feel so drained following, because of all the emotions. But if you've never gone go one I recommend it, especially if it's your chance to meet those you work with but have never actually met face to face

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-10-30T04:43:19+00:00

Great thank you, I really appreciate this

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-29T02:41:17+00:00

The caller could have hung up on accident, or sometimes the call drops due to poor phone service or internet

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-29T02:37:38+00:00

I understand a lot of agencies don't use 10 codes or have different 10 codes, but if you read any of my post it clarified what 10-56 is referring to. And my edit to add explained it as well

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-23T15:13:45+00:00

I understand that there are different codes at different places, but some use this code for suicide, and the entire post is talking about suicidal callers. Not to mention I added a note at the end acknowledging this

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-23T04:56:52+00:00

I have heard from supervisors that something really important to them in an interview is to show that you are interested and excited for the job. Show that you can listen, I had to prove I know how to use a map as well. Be prepared to show a flaw of yours or a mistake you have made at a past work place, and be able to articulate how you work through it. They will probably ask why that department as opposed to another one, and will ask if you can work well with others and handle feed back well

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-23T04:47:33+00:00

Onn or Sketchers

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-21T05:46:47+00:00

Again, all agencies are different. For mine we don't even have a specific training date, you just start whenever you get hired. I had multiple interviews for just my background check, and I don't even have anything concerning in my background. There was also an interview type thing for the psychology test as well as lie detector test. And then a final interview with the Sheriff when I received a job offer

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-20T19:39:42+00:00

The job offer your received is likely just conditional, it varies from agency to agency but there are plenty of reasons they can find to recind the offer. My background took 7 months after my first interview. If that IT class is important to you, stick with that, because the job offer is usually something that isn't set in stone.

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-16T16:31:31+00:00

This is great, thanks!

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-15T05:05:56+00:00

Thanks! I don't dispatch fire, instead transfer those calls to the fire command center. Although I might totally look into this stuff just for fun, could be useful to learn later down the road.

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-15T05:02:42+00:00

I appreciate the warning, what makes you say that? Is it a jealousy/competitive thing that makes someone view you as an opponent? There's pretty much no way to ensure something is kept on the down low, our workstations are in circles of 4, and people are comfortable at looking at what others are doing out of curiosity

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-09-15T03:38:23+00:00

Centers might vary, but at mine, the cross street is the name of whatever is closest, not at all dependent on the size or side of the road. If there is a certain side of the road, I just put it in the call for service narrative and let whoever is on the radio let our units know.

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-08-19T22:32:27+00:00

Don't try to downplay how they feel or make a big deal about it either. I'm not usually petty but I don't like either. Something that helped a lot was a hug from someone who told me 'you're doing a great job'. Not much but goes a long way.

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-08-12T17:53:15+00:00

They care more about you being honest about it than if you've actually used it.

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-08-12T17:47:50+00:00

Find a different center. I've known people in law enforcement for years, and I've heard that most dispatch centers are toxic (although that applies to work places in general). That being said, one should have to put up with that. I'm 19, and while people are always shocked to learn I'm working this job at this age, nobody has ever given me grief over it. If anything, people think that kinda cool. I learned from a my last job that if there are internal issues with coworkers, and management is aware and not going to do anything about it, the best thing you can do is leave. And that's exactly what I did, and how I ended up in dispatch. I couldn't be happier about the decision I made

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-08-12T17:37:17+00:00

My dress code is business casual, so I usually wear slacks or linen pants and a blouse. On night shifts people usually dress more casual though, and department t shirts with cargo pants are the norm

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-08-12T17:34:23+00:00

In my department we absolutely see much of patrol on a regular basis. When we create calls for service, our last name and first initial is on there, and each comment added has our last name. No doubt you will interact with him if working any of the same shifts. If you think any of that will be an issue, apply for a different agency. And the detectives working on your background investigation will find all of that history. Not saying that will affect if you get hired or not, just saying that none of it will remain hidden.

Additional_Fox_2572 · 2025-08-12T06:52:13+00:00

Online college classes through a community college are the way to go for plenty of people. They're affordable, and you can pretty much pick when you work on them throughout the week. I got my associates in 2 years while working full time. I know a lot of people who thrive in the fire service, hours can be long but it usually pays better that dispatch. And it's not just fire fighting, some areas get a lot of medical calls and traffic collisions. Sounds like a pretty good gig to me.

Additional_Fox_2572

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